Warren's Ridge And Lucile Cave

BOU AVENUE
Warren's Ridge And Lucile Cave

On 24 December 2025, Zosia Zgolak and I hiked unofficially-named "Warren's Ridge" at Hells Gate Habitat Management Unit (HMU) just outside Lewiston, Idaho. The HMU is one of many managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Walla Walla District) as part of a compensation plan to address the loss of fish and wildlife habitat due to the construction of dams along Snake River. A fringe benefit of that plan is the allowance of public recreation on HMU land. Given its close proximity to the city, Hells Gate HMU is exceedingly popular with local hikers, but the trails here are also open to mountain bikers, equestrians, and even hunters (map available here). We would hike a counter-clockwise loop which entails visiting a knoll overlooking the river and then traversing Warren's Ridge from east to west.

Starting from the trailhead (46.35673, -117.05120) along Tammany Creek Road, Zosia and I followed signed trails called "Easy Street" and "Charlie's Peak" which run eastward along a flat bench between Warren's Ridge and Snake River. The latter trail ultimately leads to the aforementioned knoll which bears the same name--Charlie's Peak. From there, we easily ascended "Jawbone", "Everest Trail" and "Kip's Cutoff" to gain the east end of Warren's Ridge. The broad crest of Warren's Ridge has two distinct high points, and contrary to what is shown on several online maps, I found both high points to be roughly of equal height. The very west end of the ridge is closed apparently to help preserve the wildlife habitat there, but more likely, the closure is meant to prevent people from short-cutting straight down to the trailhead. In any case, it was not that much of a detour for us to descend the officially-sanctioned "Powerline" trail and connect with "Easy Street" to finish our loop.

Wheelchair-accessible! "Warren's Ridge" is visible at distant left as Zosia reads some information at the trailhead.

"Easy Street" is one of the many great songs from the musical "Annie"! Zosia marches along "Easy Street" with the west end of Warren's Ridge in view.

Looks impressive for such a lowly ridge! Zosia passes the steep southern flank of Warren's Ridge.

Such an "epic" ascent! Zosia approaches the top of "Charlie's Peak".

Impressive cairn for such a small peak!
Zosia stands atop of Charlie's Peak (307 metres) with Snake River visible in the valley at right.

We skipped "Devil's Slide", the trail at right going steeply up the ridge. Zosia heads for the coulee to ascend the east end of Warren's Ridge.

Not too steep! This trail in the coulee is called "Kip's Cutoff".

The western high point looks higher from here... Zosia stands on the eastern high point (422 metres) of Warren's Ridge. The western high point is visible behind her.

How many different tracks can you count? Zosia follows multiple parallel tracks along the crest of Warren's Ridge.

Surprisingly the same height as the eastern high point.

Zosia stands on the western high point (422 metres) of Warren's Ridge.

	As Zosia walks back to the trailhead, the striking formation known as Swallow Rock can be seen in the distance through the gap.
	Total Distance: 5.4 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 1 hour 54 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 146 metres GPX Data

Departing Hells Gate HMU, Zosia and I drove south and made a second stop to visit Idaho's Lucile Cave located near its namesake community along US Highway 95. I spotted this local attraction purely by chance while perusing Google Maps and thought that it would make for a simple leg-stretcher to break up a long drive. As it turned out, visiting Lucile Cave would not be so simple. The cave is accessed by a steep trail starting from a dirt parking area (45.52235, -116.30443) along the east side of US Highway 95.

From the parking area, Zosia and I crossed a decommissioned section of the old Highway 95 and then passed through a v-gate to reach the start of the trail. The moderately steep trail initially felt mildly exposed because of a lack of vegetation, but as we climbed higher, thorny bushes began to encroach on the trail. At one point, we even had to duck down to get through the increasingly overgrown trail. Climbing the last few metres to the cave entrance was surprisingly challenging even with the aid of a fixed rope. The trail is very steep here and partly eroded from all the moisture trickling down from the cave. Worse, the moisture made the footing dangerously slick, and I am doubtful that we would have continued had the rope not been there. With water dripping everywhere, most of the cave floor was flooded, but we were still able to awkwardly sneak into the drier back part of the cave where we startled several pigeons roosting there.

When we had our fill of stepping in bird poop, Zosia and I made our way back out the cave. The descent of the fixed-rope section was just as nerve-racking as the ascent, but we both thankfully made it down without a slip. The remaining hike out was uneventful, and we were soon back in our car and driving south to our next vacation destination.

This is actually the base of the western slopes of John Day Mountain. In this view from the parking area, the approximate location of Lucile Cave is indicated.

Watch out for the barbed wire! After crossing the decommissioned old Highway 95 and passing through a v-gate, Zosia starts climbing up the trail to Lucile Cave.

According to Wikipedia, "Salmon River is the longest undammed river in the contiguous United States." Salmon River and Highway 95 are visible as Zosia climbs higher up the trail.

Don't wear a down jacket here! Parts of the trail are overgrown with thorny bushes.

Definitely test the rope before trusting your full weight on it! A fixed rope aids the final steep ascent to the cave entrance.

A bit of "aid-scrambling" is needed to get into the cave. Zosia reaches the top of the fixed rope at the entrance of the cave.

Did you remember to bring your swim suit? At the cave entrance, Zosia sees that much of floor of Lucile Cave is flooded.

Man, is it ever wet in here! Great place to be on a hot day, I guess! Speleothems are evident inside Lucile Cave.

Lotsa pigeon poop here, but at least there's not much graffiti!

Here is a more comprehensive view of the interior of Lucile Cave.

	Zosia carefully descends from the cave entrance with the help of the fixed rope.
	Total Distance: 1.1 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 50 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 68 metres GPX Data

	"Warren's Ridge" is visible at distant left as Zosia reads some information at the trailhead.
	Zosia marches along "Easy Street" with the west end of Warren's Ridge in view.
	Zosia passes the steep southern flank of Warren's Ridge.
	Zosia approaches the top of "Charlie's Peak".
	Zosia stands atop of Charlie's Peak (307 metres) with Snake River visible in the valley at right.
	Zosia heads for the coulee to ascend the east end of Warren's Ridge.
	This trail in the coulee is called "Kip's Cutoff".
	Zosia stands on the eastern high point (422 metres) of Warren's Ridge. The western high point is visible behind her.
	Zosia follows multiple parallel tracks along the crest of Warren's Ridge.

	In this view from the parking area, the approximate location of Lucile Cave is indicated.
	After crossing the decommissioned old Highway 95 and passing through a v-gate, Zosia starts climbing up the trail to Lucile Cave.
	Salmon River and Highway 95 are visible as Zosia climbs higher up the trail.
	Parts of the trail are overgrown with thorny bushes.
	A fixed rope aids the final steep ascent to the cave entrance.
	Zosia reaches the top of the fixed rope at the entrance of the cave.
	At the cave entrance, Zosia sees that much of floor of Lucile Cave is flooded.
	Speleothems are evident inside Lucile Cave.