WIEC Boulder-Chain Lakes Loop

How To

Wild Idaho Endurance Challenge events are self/unsupported wilderness fun runs. No course markings, no aid stations, no set date or time. You can complete them by yourself at any time or with a friend or two. Routes must be completed on foot and in one push. The nice part is that there are no cutoffs, so if you find a lake where you want to take a dip or a special viewpoint that you want to sit and enjoy, there is no pressure! Please take photos and visit the Facebook or Instagram pages afterwards and share with us how it went with a short trip report! You can either self report your time on the honor system, or you can submit your Strava/Gaia/Garmin/Suunto etc track. Please visit the website for GPS/GPX tracks of your route.

But Why?

To get people out into the wonderful wilderness areas that we have here! Information isn't always readily available for these areas and maps can be scarce and not always reliable. That can intimidate some that aren't as experienced outdoors-people. The goal is to empower people to get out into these wilderness areas, to raise awareness of them, and hopefully to protect them into the future.

ALL PROFITS FROM REGISTRATION FEES will be donated to the Idaho Trails Association.

Route Description

Starting from the Fourth of July trailhead at the end of Forest Road 209, almost the whole route is above 8500 ft, so this is definitely a late summer option. This loop features a few miles of off trail route finding and scrambling in the Antz and Four Lakes Basins. Once you reach the top of Windy Devil and drop down into the Chain Lakes, there should be worn trail the rest of the way. Feel free to take a side trip to Lonesome Lake as well. One of the highest in Idaho at 10,449 feet. Once you make it out of the Chain Lakes, you’ll have great views of Castle Peak (the tallest in the range), as you climb up and over Castle Divide. This will drop you into Chamberlain Basin, and from there you’re home free.