Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published November 2018

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Chicken Peak is located in the Big Hole Mountains above Fleming Canyon, which is off ID-31 as you head toward Victor, Idaho. We climbed Chicken Peak as an overnight trip when we also climbed Peak 7978, Black Mountain, Liars Peak, Piney Peak and Peak 8619. All of these peaks are accessible from a well-traveled trail that is also popular for guided hunting and dirt bikes.

There are no water sources along or near the main trail except for one small spring that was not flowing when we were there in late September. The only other possible spring in the area is off the South Side of Chicken Peak’s West Ridge (see the ListsOfJohn link for a map). However, we did not hike to the spring to verify its existence. USGS Stouts Mountain

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Access

To get to Chicken Peak, first get to Fleming Canyon. As you travel toward Victor, Idaho on ID-31, the canyon is located on the north side of the highway. Specifically, the canyon is between Stouts Mountain and the West Piney Girls Recreation Camp. The canyon turnoff is not signed and is easily missed. Putting Fleming Canyon into Google Maps will get you close to the canyon’s jeep road [shown in Google erroneously as FST-270; this trail is actually FST-079].

If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can travel a good distance into the canyon, but you may need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle depending on conditions/time of year. There is no formal parking anywhere. To climb Peak 7978, follow this jeep road until it turns into a single track trail. Park wherever it is convenient. We parked near Gopher Canyon, but you can possibly get farther in, near Snowslide Gulch.

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Southeast Ridge Route, Class 1

From where you park, hike on FST-079 farther into Fleming Canyon until you encounter a junction with the Dry Canyon Trail. Stay to the right to remain on FST-079. As you continue upward on the trail, you will encounter signage. At this point, follow signs to Black Mountain. Continue past Black Mountain until you reach a bigger junction with signs for several trails at around 7,800 feet.

From here, it is a little over a mile to the summit. Continue on the main trail toward Chicken Peak. Take a short spur trail from the main trail to the summit. You can see this spur trail as you are hiking. From the summit, enjoy good views of nearby Big Hole peaks and the Teton Mountain Range. There might even be a couple of folding chairs to sit on up there.