These mountains are located east of Idaho Falls and north of the Snake River. Although designated as two separate ranges by the USGS map makers, the Big Hole and Snake River ranges are physically and geologically the same group of mountains.

These mountains form a tangled web of ridges, streams, aspen thickets and meadows that rise out of the Snake River Plain. They gradually gain elevation from west to east. Piney Peak, at 9,019 feet, is the highest point in the Big Hole group; Mount Baird, at 10,042 feet, is the highest point in the Snake River Range.

Kelly Mountain Trip Report March 2007 Trip report by Rick Baugher.

KEN JONES OF NEWCASTLE, WA. writes: Garns Mountain, 9,016'(?) and Piney Peak, 9,019' (July 9, 2001). I'm not sure where you got the 9,019' elevation for Piney Peak. However, the 9,016' elevation for Garns Mountain is at the benchmark, and my best estimate was that the highest summit rock rises 3 feet above the benchmark. Work with a sighting level (both directions) was unable to determine which of these two peaks was higher. I'm not sure that "The highest point in the Big Hole Mountains" can be entirely justified in your description of Piney Peak.

KEN JONES OF NEWCASTLE, WA. writes: Mount Baird, 10,025' (July 6, 2001). Via the Little Elk Creek Trail, one can also head to the northwest ridge instead of the north. The northwest ridge is class 2.