DEEP CREEK MOUNTAINS

The Deep Creek Mountains are discussed on Pages 353-355 of the book.


The Deep Creek Mountains form a rugged, linear and unbroken escarpment that begins near American Falls and runs south for 30 miles toward Holbrook. The Arbon Valley flanks the range on the east; the Rockland Valley on the west. Deep Creek Peak is the highest point in the range at 8,748 feet. The range includes several long, well-developed canyons, including Big Canyon and Knox Canyon. It is surprising and unfortunate that Teddy Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot did not include this forested and attractive range in the National Forest System when they hurriedly added public lands to the system just before the presidential power to do so ended. The extensive public land found in the range is administered by the BLM.

The Deep Creek Mountains are capped by Deep Creek Peak at 8,748 feet, viewed in this photo from the northeast.

The Deep Creek Mountains are capped by Deep Creek Peak at 8,748 feet, viewed in this photo from the northeast.

The range contains more than 30 ranked summits and good, high access to the peaks located around Deep Creek Peak. Access to other sections of the range is hit or miss due to private property issues. The northern portion of the Deep Creek Mountains is located on the Shoshone-Bannock Fort Hall Reservation. Access is not open to the public. Livingston Douglas discusses the current status of Reservation land and the peaks found there in his article Reservation Peaks of the Northern Arbon Valley.

Approaching the range from the west on the road up Big Canyon.

This sign is found on the pass where the Big Canyon/Knox Canyon Road crosses the range.

This sign is found on the pass where the Big Canyon/Knox Canyon Road crosses the range.

Deep Creek Peak Viewed from the Big Canyon/Knox Canyon pass.

Deep Creek Peak as viewed from the Big Canyon/Knox Canyon Pass.

Peak 8437 can be climbed from the pass at where the Big Canyon/Knox Canyon Road crosses the range.

Peak 8437 can be climbed from the pass where the Big Canyon/Knox Canyon Road crosses the range.

Looking down Bull Canyon from the slopes of Deep Creek Peak.

Looking down Bull Canyon from the slopes of Deep Creek Peak.

Bannock Peak, the range’s second most impressive peak, is located on the Fort Hall Reservation.

Bannock Peak, the range’s second most impressive peak, is located on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

Peak 7814 has a twin summit just to its north which is 7,804 feet high.

Peak 7814 has a twin summit just to its north which measures at 7,804 feet.

Mountain Range: Deep Creek Mountains

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