Birch Creek Charcoal Kilns
Leadore, Idaho
| Address: | Forest Rd 533, Leadore, ID 83464, USA |
| GPS: |
44°18'37.4"N 113°10'47.2"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
| Trails/Routes: | 0.3 mi |
Hike
During the 1880’s the Birch Creek Valley bustled with activity as miners worked a rich body of ore located about 10 miles east of the Kilns, known as the Viola Mine. It was discovered in 1881 and produced $2,500,000 worth of lead and silver before the ore ran out in 1888. Metal was extracted from the ore by a smelter located near the mine. The smelter contained two blast furnaces, each capable of handling 40 tons of ore per day. The furnace consumed prodigious quantities of fuel, resulting in the building of the Charcoal Kilns.Courtesy of fs.usda.gov
A Butte, Montana, man named Warren King built 16 kilns from brick made from local clay, possibly obtained from Jump Creek on the east side of the Birch Creek valley. The beehive-shaped kilns are each about 20 feet (6.1 m) tall and 20 feet (6.1 m) in diameter. When operating, each kiln used 30 to 40 cords of Douglas fir wood per load, producing about 1,500 to 2,000 bushels (70 cubic meters) of charcoal over a two-day burn. The kiln operation lasted for less than three years, employing 150 to 200 people at its peak, and had a monthly output estimated at 44,000 to 50,000 bushels (1550 to 1762 cubic meters) of charcoal.Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Leadore, Idaho
- Head northeast on Carbonate St toward S Railroad St (138 ft)
- Turn right onto ID-28 S/
S Railroad St Continue to follow ID-28 S(29.1 mi) - Turn right onto Forest Rd 188 (4.8 mi)
- Continue onto Forest Rd 533 (0.4 mi)
- Slight right onto Nat For Dev Rd 541Destination will be on the left(157 ft)
Trails
Distance ?
0.3 milesReal Ascent ?
37 feetReal Descent ?
37 feetGrade (-9° to 9°)
-16% to 16%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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