Davis Mountain Road

Davis Mountain Road is a non-maintained rock, gravel, and dirt trail through the Bennett Mountains north of Gooding, Idaho. The surface is often very rocky, rough, and steep, making a four-wheel drive vehicle with good ground clearance and proper tires a must. The road climbs in and out of several deep valleys, has multiple water crossings, and numerous tight switchback turns. Anticipate climbs steeper than 15°.

Davis Mountain Road follows along the north edge of both the Deer Creek Wilderness Study Area and the Gooding City of Rocks East Wilderness Study Area. While motorized travel within the WSAs is not allowed, there are a couple of cherry stem and through-road incursions into the WSAs where motorized travel is allowed. Whether traveling the main road or an incursion, it is important to stay on the designated road and respect the near-wilderness aspects of the area.

Dispersed camping is allowed along Davis Mountain Road, and there are numerous likely places to set up for the night. Where the road borders a Wilderness Study Area, camping inside the WSA is allowed—but you have to walk into the chosen site as vehicles are not allowed in the WSA. Potential dispersed campsites are near small springs and streams, but, at least in early May, the mosquitoes would make camping in those spots less than pleasant.