Although it is easy access with good roads virtually the whole way, the trailhead is a bit of a drive from the valley. Getting there take you through Sweet and Ola and onto more than 20 miles of dirt road. The Joe’s Creek Trailhead is a few miles above Sage Hen Reservoir. It’s easy to find with good directions provided in Scott Marchant’s Hikers Guide: Exploring Greater Boise, where this hike is #33.

When you go, make sure you don’t make my mistake and fill up with gas before leaving the valley. I neglected to take into account the fact that I would be driving uphill on dirt roads for most of the approach, and told myself that I had plenty of gas. There is no gas available after Emmett or Horseshoe Bend, depending on which way you go. As we drove I watched with growing apprehension the gas gauge drop much quicker than anticipated.

We parked at the trailhead with the car estimating we had about 17 miles before empty and more than 50 miles to drive to the nearest gas station. Having made it this far, I figured there’s nothing we can do about it now and we may as well make the hike before worrying about it.

Fortunately, gravity was our friend on the way out and we were able to coast most of the nearly 50 miles. We pulled into the gas station with the gas light on and the car estimating 1 mile before we would have stranded ourselves. There’s always an adventure with us!