Elevation: 8,826 ft
Prominence: 1,446
Climbing and access information for this peak is on Page 213 of the book. Livingston Douglas authors the update on the East Ridge Route detailed in the book. Updated November 2022
Please note that more recent maps assess the elevation of Kelly Mountain at 8,826 feet, a slight difference from the book’s figure. USGS Richardson Summit
Kelly Mountain as viewed from Buttercup Mountain
Access
From the center of Hailey on ID-75, go west on Bullion Street (which becomes Croy Creek Road) and drive 6.6 miles to [unsigned] Red Elephant Gulch Road, a decent 2-track road. Turn right/northwest and drive 2.1 miles up Red Elephant Gulch Road to a spur road (and an informal campsite). Park here (6,255 feet). GPS coordinates: 43⁰29’22”N, 114⁰25’53”W.
East Ridge, Class 2
The Climb
From the campsite, walk about 0.2 miles south down Red Elephant Gulch Road to reach the toe of the east ridge and the easiest access point. There is no parking pullout here, so the campsite parking spot is your best option. Leave the road and descend through sagebrush to cross [small] Elk Creek and begin the climb up the east ridge. Stay left/south of the thick pine forest and bushwhack up through thick sagebrush (with some loose underlying scree) to reach a better-defined ridge crest higher up. You will find some helpful game trails in the sagebrush early on to assist you in your climb. The sagebrush becomes more gapped and shorter as you gain elevation and the ridge becomes an easy slog. The east ridge weaves a bit and turns right-ish/north high up to reach the summit of Kelly Mountain. The summit has a metal post and a large summit cairn.
Kelly Mountain (dead center) as viewed from Peak 7536 to its east. Livingston Douglas Photo
Looking up the upper east ridge of Kelly Mountain. The summit hump is not yet in view. Livingston Douglas Photo
The summit cairn atop Kelly Mountain on a stormy morning. Livingston Douglas Photo
Kelly Mountain as viewed from the south
Additional Resources