Oolite Interpretive Trail near Grand View, Idaho

Southern Idaho continues to impress us. Once again driving into the middle of seemingly nowhere, much like Box Canyon, produces an unexpected adventure. A quick trip to Grand View, Idaho puts you deep into a stereotypical landscape of agriculture. Flatland as far as the eye can see, grazing cows who could care less about and your oncoming car, and prehistoric rock formations… Wait, what was that last one? That’s right, out of land rises strange rock formations called Oolites. Looking like a series of ancient caveman dwellings, these limestone structures are a fascinating to investigate. And while the trail is short, you can spend hours exploring the area around the Oolite Interpretive trail.

What the heck is an Oolite?

Your first question might be, “What is an Oolite?”. An Oolite is a rock formation that is created by ancient salt lakes grinding away at limestone. Much like the arches in southern Utah, these stones have been carved into various shapes by the flow of centuries-old currents. These waters remove the weaker sections of stone leading to arches, caves and other bizarre sculptures.

Oolite Interpretive Trail

The drive from Boise to the trailhead is incredibly dull so be prepared with a podcast or something to keep you occupied for an hour and a half. The Oolite trail starts at a short turnout in what seems like the middle of nowhere. Luckily, the trailhead is marked so it isn’t hard to miss. Once at the trailhead, you will see a few rather dull informational signs and wooden fence with a cool hand-crafted metal “Trail” sign. Go through the fence and follow the markers to a large hill.

Once you arrive at the base of the hill, the trail fades away. From here you can explore wherever your heart desires. We recommend heading up the hill and investigating the large collection of Oolites on top.

The word “Interpretive” has some heavy emphasis on this trail. There are a few signs guiding you along the short trail but it ends abruptly after around a quarter mile. Feel free to explore the area using some of the unofficial deer trails. While it’s difficult to get lost the weaving web of animal tracks may leave you bushwacking to get back to the main trail.

Trail Tips

• It can get muddy in certain areas so have a spare set of shoes to avoid getting your car all muddy.
• Avoid going in the summertime. The warm surfaces of the Oolites attract rattlesnakes.
• If you want to stop and take a look, you pass Shoo Fly Pioneer Cemetery right before you get to the trailhead.

Chad Albright

Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.