Needles Peak

Needles Peak from the southwest. Three of the granite towers on this peak are visible in this photo. There are a large number of one and two pitch routes on these formation many of which were first climbed by Doug Colwell.

Climbing and access information for this peak is found on pages 115 to 116. Needles Peak in general is just a big rounded, tree-covered mountain. What makes it special are the granite spires festooning its summit. The highest of these towers forms the summit. This spire is Class 4 by its easiest route.  USGS Gold Fork Rock BE CAREFUL Since … Continue reading

Snowbank Mountain

Climbing and access information for this peak is on Page 106 of the book. The highest point in the West Mountains has a radar dome on its West Summit and additional electronics installations on its East Summit. It is difficult to tell that the East Summit is the high point. Both summits are reached by FSR-446 that is usually open … Continue reading

Lava Butte

Climbing and access information this peak is on Page 111 of the book. Lava Butte sits in the middle of an extensive area that burned in the early 1990s. Still, it is a worthy goal and a good vantage point to learn the terrain of the northeastern section of the Idaho Batholith and the Northeastern Salmon River Mountains. USGS Hershey … Continue reading

Cannonball Mountain

Cannonball Mountain. Brett Sergenian Photo

Climbing and access information for this peak is on Pages 215-216 of the book. Updated August 2019 Cannonball Mountain is located northeast of Fairfield, Idaho and south of Liberal Mountain. This peak, along with Liberal Mountain, forms the northeastern corner of the Soldier Mountains. The book recommended climbing the peak from Wells Summit and this is still a viable route. … Continue reading

Hayden Peak

Climbing and access information for this peak is on Page 345 of the book. Also see the Owyhee Mountains Peaks List for all of the peaks in this range. Updated September 2019. Hayden Peak, also called Cinnabar Mountain, is the highest point in Owyhee County and the highest peak in the Owyhee Mountains. The big Owyhee Peaks are carved up … Continue reading

Granite Mountain 8479

Climbing and access information for this peak is on Page 111 of the book. I previously grouped this peak with the the Grass Mountain Subrange of the Salmon River Mountains. However, after hiking the all of the peaks and discussions with local climbers I removed it from the the subrange. Updated February 2021 Granite Peak is capped by a fire … Continue reading