New trail closures implemented due to Crooked Fire near Idaho City
Sep 03, 2026 | 5:52 pm ET
Description
The Crooked Fire started Aug. 18, 2026, and is burning outside of Idaho City. (Photo courtesy of Todd Wernex/Idaho Department of Lands)
State officials announced the temporary closure of seven trails on Thursday due to the Crooked Fire that is burning near Idaho City.
The fire is burning in steep, rocky and heavily forested terrain about 14 miles northeast of Idaho City, along the North Fork of the Boise River.
Idaho Department of Lands officials said the temporary closures are necessary to protect the public and firefighters’ safety as the wildfire continues to burn.
The temporary trail closures include:
- 694, Granite Creek
- 692, Peg’s Leg
- 664, Kevin’s Hand
- 660, North Fork of Thorn
- 594, Bannock Loop
- 123, Easter Creek
- 110, Chuck Wells
The closures apply to everyone, including all motorized and nonmotorized recreation users, officials said.
“Please do not enter closed areas or bypass posted closure signs,” Idaho Department of Lands officials wrote in a press release. “Giving firefighters the room they need is critical to yours and their safety and allows them to focus on protecting our communities, property and public lands.”
The seven new temporary trail closures are in addition to existing closures the U.S. Forest Service announced Aug. 23, which are scheduled to remain in place until Dec. 31 unless rescinded earlier. Those closures affect the Black Rock Campground, Upper Crooked River Trailhead and Lower Crooked River Trailhead, officials said.
The Crooked Fire is a human-caused fire that started Aug. 18 outside of Idaho City. The cause of the fire, which has burned 9,956 acres, is under investigation, officials said.
Crews are using a full-suppression strategy where conditions allow them to do so safely, officials said. There were about 600 personnel fighting the Crooked Fire as of Thursday, as well as eight helicopters, 22 engines and 14 pieces of heavy equipment, according to Great Basin Incident Management Team 3.
Containment was estimated at 21% as of Thursday.
Updated information on the Crooked Fire is posted online by the U.S. Forest Service-Boise National Forest and the U.S. government’s interagency Incident Information System InciWeb.
Boise, ID
