Elevation: 8,180 ft
Prominence: 438
This peak is not in the book. Livingston Douglas added a new route to this entry. Updated November 2022
Peak 8180, also known as Salt Creek Peak, sits on the north side of the Soldier Mountains Crest and west of Couch Summit in the Sawtooth National Forest. The views of the Soldier Mountains, Boise Mountains, and Smoky Mountains in this area are massive and include, among many other notable summits, Steele Mountain, Ross Peak, Two Point Mountain, and Big Mountain, as well as the main Soldier Mountain Crest from Peak 1 in the east to Iron Mountain in the west. USGS Sydney Butte
Hiking up Salt Creek Peak’s south ridge
Access
From US-20 in Fairfield, Idaho, drive through downtown Fairfield to a three-way junction. Turn right on Baseline Road and drive 0.3 miles and then turn left onto Soldier Creek Road. Follow this paved road for 7.5 miles to the signed junction for Couch Summit Road. This well-maintained gravel road reaches Couch Summit in 4.3 miles. At this pass, turn left onto FS-010 and follow this (also) well-maintained road for 4.6 miles to a large meadow that sits between Salt Creek Peak, Basque Peak, and Gora Euzkotarak Peak. FS-010 is a surprisingly good road and, when dry, most vehicles will be able to traverse it.
South Ridge, Class 1+
Climb the peak from FS-010 where it crosses the peak’s south ridge. There is an overgrown road that follows the top of the ridge a short ways and then turns into a game trail that leads to within 50 feet of the summit. Other than patches of thick sagebrush, you can climb this peak from almost any direction. A road parallels the peak’s west slopes and offers an alternate starting point. My GPS recorded 1.2 miles and 459 feet of elevation gain.
My GPS track
North Ridge, Class 2 by Livingston Douglas
Salt Creek Peak (dead center) as viewed from the north. Livingston Douglas Photo
The Climb
This descent (then ascent) is part of a ridge traverse from Salt Creek Peak to Peak 8113 and back. From the summit of Salt Creek Peak, follow the ridge crest through open sagebrush with a few scattered pines. A deer trail will help you on much of this ridge traverse. The base of the north ridge is at the 7,820-foot connecting saddle with Peak 8113. This concludes the first leg of a 2-peak adventure. Peak 8113 is up next.
The summit cairn atop Salt Creek Peak with Gora Euzkotarak Peak in the distance.,Livingston Douglas Photo
Additional Resources
Regions: Soldier Mountains->WESTERN IDAHO
Mountain Range: Soldier Mountains
Year Climbed: 2016
Longitude: -114.85759 Latitude: 43.54949