PAST PROJECTS - completed december 2025

SAMSON’S RAMPAGE

PARTNERS

Wood River Trails Coalition

Bureau of Land Management - Shoshone Field Office

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

Titus Trails

PROJECT COST

$—-,—-

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Winding through the scenic slopes of Croy Canyon, the new Samson’s Rampage Trail offers a sweeping wide-open experience for all trail users. Designed primarily for motorized use, the trail delivers a beginner-to-intermediate challenge for dirt bikers and an intermediate-to-advanced ride for mountain bikers looking to grunt up the climbs. Trail runners and hikers will enjoy a South Valley trail with some “punchy” climbs that will keep you on your toes (literally!)

Stretching 5.5 miles between 5,792 and 6,410 feet in elevation, this singletrack offers medium exposure, and grades averaging 10% with occasional steep pitches up to 25%. Riders will enjoy sweeping canyon views, stretches of solitude, and the physical challenge of sustained climbs and descents.

While no mountain bike-specific features have been added, the natural flow of the terrain keeps the ride engaging. Seasonal maintenance will focus on preserving drainage, brushing back sage and tree limbs, and re-benching in steeper areas to keep the trail sustainable, but will not include raking the trail. Expect loose and rough conditions.

Samson’s Rampage was constructed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Shoshone Field Office, in partnership with the Wood River Trails Coalition and was authorized by the BLM Wood River Valley Recreation and Access Decision Record. This trail is open to motorized users, Class 1, 2 & 3 e-bikes, mountain bikes, equestrians and hikers.

The Decision Record for the Wood River Valley Recreation and Access Environmental Assessment authorizes construction of approximately 81 miles of new trails as well as seven new trailheads and 21 new designated dispersed campsites primarily in the Kelly and Quigley Gulches and Cove Creek. It also changes some existing trail designations to allow the use of e-bikes.

BY THE NUMBERS

Trail Length: 5.5 miles one way

Trail Grade: average of 10% with steeper climbs reaching 25%

Users: Open to all users, designed primarily for motorized use

Maintenance: Expect rougher trail conditions, as a dirt bike-focused trail, we won’t be raking it quite like we do for Hang Tight/Loose!

WRTC staff and contractors spent

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totaling over

$—-,—-

Who Was Samson?

In 1884, a circus came to Hailey. As was customary, the animals that were part of the circus in 1884 were kept in chains, and were treated as “beasts”. Well, there was this one guy, an elephant, named Samson who got sick of it.

During a parade, he got agitated at the dogs barking around his legs, and with the general treatment he was receiving, so he lost it. He broke his chains, ripped free of his shackles, and went on a rampage through the circus and parade before running out Croy Canyon.

For a brief moment, as he was running out Croy, Samson was free. Free from the chains and shackles.

We thought that was worth honoring.

All of this was uncovered by the incredible historians at the Blaine County Historical Society. Their reporting about Samson is what initially inspired us to name the trail that passes through “Red Elephant Gulch” after him. We are not positive that is what the Gulch is named after.