I was tipped-off by K7DJL that Salmo was nearly a drive-up summit not too far from our planned camp on Priest Lake. Turned out that it was a fun scenic drive through cedar and hemlock forest and over a couple of mountain passes. The summit looks into Canada so we decided to spend the night in the saddle between the 1960s era US Forest Service Lookout and the actual summit.
For those speedy hikers Rhodes Peak can be hiked in a day. For those like me, a trail sloth, a backpack camp at Goat Lake half-way there is a fine alternative for a multi-day hike to three nearby summits. The lake is within a scenic alpine basin next to W7I/NI-108 and looks across a valley to Williams Peak W7I/NI-003. Rhodes Peak is Clearwater County’s highpoint and is sought by those summiting every County highpoint in Idaho.
Williams Peak is a good trail hike with a short off-trail hike and a short rock scramble. The summit has good views but little room for operating. A good alternative is to hunker-in just below the summit and tie off to one of the few snags or live trees on the south side.
Oreana Ridge is a picturesque summit with scattered trees, grass/forb land, an old US Forest Service L-4 Lookout and a log garage. There are fine views of high peaks in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and the steep slopes of Salmon River breaks. The lookout built in
Tincup Hill summit is a large flat area covered by a regenerated old clearcut of 15-30’ tall lodgepole pine. There are also some mining exploration shallow-trenches cut into the summit area and access ridge. The hike is through easy terrain lacking in downfall or high brush. Trees are available to attach wire antennas.
Pasture Ridge is one of several SOTA summits near the Magruder Corridor. This corridor-road divides some of the most wild-country in Idaho, the Selway Bitterroot and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness areas. The trail access to the summit begins at the Historic Magruder Ranger Station.
Blue Nose is a US Forest Service Lookout built in 1934. The structure still exists. From the summit are good views of the steep slopes of the Salmon River Canyon and high summits of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. The final access road is a bit
This is a burned-over flat-summit on the Idaho/Montana Border. Access is via an obscure 4x4 road that takes off to the north from FS#038. Along this road after several hundred feet is a flatten area used as a dispersed campsite most commonly in hunting season. Beyond this area the road becomes an ATV track weaving through a sn
This un-named summit on the Idaho/Montana Border has similar views as Skookum Butte Lookout to the east 1.5 miles. The route also has good views looking down on Granite Lake. Distance views are peaks in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. It combines a vehicle drive, mountain bike road, a hiking trail and off-trail hike.
This Idaho/Montana border summit is an easy ‘walk-up’ from US Forest Service Road #044. The summit is on the Idaho/Montana border. From the summit are good views of the steep slopes of the Salmon River Canyon and high summits in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.