Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published November 2023

---

Peak 9278 is a narrow, rocky, ridgeline summit that is located above the headwaters of Fourth of July Creek in the Beaverhead Mountains. It sits west of the Continental Divide and is connected to it via a narrow, rocky ridge. Peak 9278 can be reached either directly from the Fourth of July Creek drainage (South Fork) or in conjunction with a climb of nearby Peak 8781. USGS Shewag Lake

Access

From US-93 north of Salmon, turn right/northeast onto [signed] Fourth of July Creek Road/FSR-071 [(A)(2) on Page 328] and reset your odometer. At 5.1 miles, reach the National Forest boundary at a cattle guard crossing. At 7.9 miles, reach an unsigned junction with two side roads. Since there is place to park at this junction, continue another 0.1 miles to a bridge crossing of Fourth of July Creek and park in a small pullout here (6,212 feet on map).

Ridge Traverse from Peak 8781, Class 3

The Climb

From the 8,460-foot connecting saddle, scramble southeast up the narrow ridge to Point 9164. From Point 9164, descend south to a narrow, elongated ridge saddle at 9,020 feet. Continue south up the narrow ridge to the summit of Peak 9278.

North Face/North Ridge, Class 3

The Climb

From the bridge crossing on Fourth of July Creek Road, bushwhack southeast then east along Fourth of July Creek to a major fork in the creek drainage. Head right/south up the south fork to its headwaters. Bushwhack south up a steep headwall then continue south through a flatter forest to reach the base of the north face of Peak 9278. Scramble up the steep face to reach Point 9164. From Point 9164, descend south to a narrow, elongated ridge saddle at 9,020 feet. Continue south up the narrow ridge to the summit of Peak 9278.

Northeast Ridge, Class 3

The Descent

From the summit, follow the ridge crest north back up to Point 9164. From Point 9164, follow the ridge east then northeast. Climb up over Point 8965 then descend quickly east to a saddle at 8,820 feet. This is the connecting saddle with Peak 9450.