Launching the Fox Creek Bridge Project!
Fox Creek Trail is one of the most loved trails in the Wood River Valley.
Each year, thousands of hikers, runners, and mountain bikers head up the canyon to enjoy its steady climb, flowing descent, and beautiful setting. But for years, one part of the trail has struggled to keep up with the landscape: the Fox Creek crossing.
A Crossing That No Longer Works
Several recent flood events have reshaped Fox Creek at the existing bridge location. What was once a single channel has spread into multiple braided channels across the floodplain.
The small bridge that once worked well here simply isn’t large enough for today’s conditions. During high water, the bridge is often flooded or damaged, and trail users are forced to ford the creek or balance across informal logs to continue up the trail.
For one of the most heavily used trails on the Ketchum Ranger District, that’s not a safe or sustainable solution. It also leads to erosion as users search for places to cross the stream.
The Long-Term Solution
In partnership with the Ketchum Ranger District, the Wood River Trails Coalition is replacing the existing crossing with a new engineered bridge designed to span the entire floodplain.
The new 70-foot steel truss trail bridge will provide a safe, reliable crossing while allowing Fox Creek to move naturally across the floodplain.
Once installed, the bridge will:
Provide a safe crossing during all water conditions
Protect streambanks from erosion caused by informal crossings
Support the thousands of trail users who rely on Fox Creek each year
This project replaces a recurring maintenance problem with a long-term solution built to last.
