Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Livingston Douglas added additional access and route information as well as three photos. Updated November 2024

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East Burnt Peak sits east of the head of the East Fork of Burnt Creek. See map below, which shows this intermittent stream as East Fork Burnt Creek. This peak is connected to Apex Peak via a saddle at 9,360 feet. This grass- and talus-covered peak can be approached from almost any direction. USGS Massacre Mountain

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Access

Access the peak from the Burnt Creek Canyon Roads [(A)(6.2) on Page 290]. Follow the road into the drainage until the road drops down off a high point to East Fork Burnt Creek.

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East Fork Burnt Creek Approach, Class 2

From the end of the road, walk past the fence and follow the trail along the East Fork Burnt Creek until you reach Burnt Creek Lake. This unofficial trail was in good shape in July 2017. The trail passes the lake on its East Side and disappears in the meadow at the South End of the lake. Continue up the drainage. You will find a good game trail most of the way to the saddle between Apex Peak and East Burnt Peak. Once you get above 8,600 feet, you can follow almost any line to the summit.

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West Face/North Ridge and North Ridge by Livingston Douglas

Access

Burnt Creek Road (BLM-140) is located along Donkey Hills Road exactly 1.5 miles northwest of Short Creek Road (see Access Section for Squawtip). The signed junction of Burnt Creek Road and Donkey Hills Road is at 44⁰13’32”N and 113⁰38’18”W. Drive southwest then south on [signed] Burnt Creek Road (a decent 2-track road) to a stream crossing and a side drainage at 3.7 miles. Continue 1.8 miles south on Burnt Creek Road (which is now much rockier and rougher) to an unsigned junction on a bluff at the fork in the canyon.

The final section of Burnt Creek Road has some steep sections and two narrow gullies to cross. A 4WD vehicle with high clearance is required. Continue another 0.2 miles on the East Fork Burnt Creek Road as it descends to a trailhead and the Burnt Creek WSA Boundary (7,980 feet and 44⁰09’00”N, 113⁰38’03”W). The road ends here. This is the first leg of a 2-peak adventure that includes East Burnt Peak and Burnt Creek WSA HP (9,817 feet). It covers 7.0 miles with 2,525 feet of elevation gain round trip.

West Face/North Ridge, Class 2

The Climb

From the trailhead, follow a use trail east then southeast up East Fork Burnt Creek. After passing Burnt Creek Lake, the trail weakens and becomes an on-and-off cattle/game trail. Continue southeast up the East Fork Burnt Creek drainage to about 8,650 feet where the pine forest ends. Move to the east side of the creek and scramble southeast (diagonally upward across the face), crossing two minor dry gullies to reach a magnificent scrub shoulder that heads directly east to the north ridge. This shoulder of short grass/scrub ends just right/south of (and above) the connecting saddle with Burnt Creek WSA HP (Peak 9817). Once on the north ridge, head south up a mix of short scrub and shale to the summit of East Burnt Peak. It has a torn-down summit cairn.

North Ridge Full, Class 2

The Descent

From the summit, descend north to the 9,500-foot connecting saddle with Burnt Creek WSA HP. The terrain on the north ridge is easy scrub and scree/gravel. The elongated connecting saddle is more problematic. It has a few rocky ridge outcrops to skirt. This concludes the first leg of today’s 2-peak journey. Burnt Creek WSA HP (9,817 feet) is up next.