Work can start on Central Idaho hiking-biking trail

A federal judge has ruled that work can go forward on a trail crossing private land that connects the popular central Idaho tourist destinations of Redfish Lake and Stanley.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale late last week rejected a request by the owners of Sawtooth Mountain Ranch to halt construction of the 4.4-mile trail for pedestrians, cyclists, horseback riders and snowmobilers.

The U.S. Forest Service has a conservation easement deed dating to 2005 that allows a trail 30 feet wide to cross about 1.5 miles of private property.

Ranch owners David Boren and Lynn Arnone filed the lawsuit in April seeking to halt work, contending the plan needs additional environmental reviews.

But Dale ruled that Boren and Arnone failed to show they were likely to succeed on the merits of their arguments.