Roughly 60 miles south of Canada, the 88,000 acre Scotchman Peaks roadless area spans the Idaho-Montana border. Since the 1970s, when the U.S. Forest Service carried out extensive evaluations of lands suitable for wilderness, this rugged, scenic and biologically diverse portion of the Cabinet Mountains has been managed for its wilderness potential. The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness believe now is the time to preserve the Scotchmans, one of the last, and largest, wild areas in our region.

Hiking Schedule

The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is proud to present our current Guided Hikes series.  We have a hike for everyone, from easy family hikes to overnight trips for experienced bushwhackers. Come join us for one of our organized hikes and see first hand why the Scotchmans deserve the protection of wilderness designation. 

Group size is limited and reservations are required.  To sign up contact the hike leader listed. 

Below this Hiking Schedule is a map with a key that references the trail heads.   If you can’t make one of these scheduled hikes, be sure to visit our “Self-Guided Hikes” page.

Please Note:  On occasion circumstances force us to change this schedule.  If you intend on joining us for any of these Guided Hikes, be SURE to sign up in advance and also re-confirm with the hike leader a day or so before the hike in case of any unavoidable last minute changes.

Click Here for a more printer friendly version of just the hike schedule

Rating Key: E = Easy M = Moderate S = Strenuous D = Difficult-Experienced Only
Hike Date Rating Hike Name Hike Leader
09/06/10 - Monday Strenuous plus Melissa Basin “Essay” Sandy Compton

In the writing world, the “essay” was defined by its inventor as an “attempt,” and this will be an attempt to reach Melissa Basin — and return — in one day. The hike begins at the Ross Creek Cedars and follows Trail #142 to 48-hour Creek. From there, bushwhacking is required. Return by the same route. If you are in condition for this hike, you will never regret it. Distance: 15 miles round trip. Elevation gain: 3300 feet (2700 in the 2 miles from Ross Creek to Melissa Basin) Maximum group size: 8

Contact: Sandy Compton    sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org    208-290-1281

09/18/10 - 09/20/10 - Sat. - Mon. Strenuous Blue Creek Respite Sandy Compton

Pack into and camp in the fabled East Fork Meadow for two nights. Spend the central day climbing Clayton Peak, reading under a tree or napping in your tent. Your choice. A chance for a down day in an up and down kind of place. This is a good opportunity for beginning backpackers in good physical shape.

Round trip: 8 + miles. Elevation gain, 2000 – 4000 feet.

Contact: Sandy Compton    sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org    208-290-1281

10/02/10 - Saturday Strenuous Scotchman Peak Phil Hough and Deb Hunsicker

This is the classic hike up the namesake peak for our proposed wilderness. It’s short but steep. We will go at a slow pace so that steady effort is all that is needed to summit. Wide panoramas and stunning views of lake Pend Oreille, along with fall colors and possibly late season huckleberries will be highlights. Wear hunter orange.

4 miles one way, 8 round trip with an elevation gain of 3,800 feet.

Contact: Phil Hough and Deb Hunsicker    phil@scotchmanpeaks.org    208-946-9127

 

Can't make one of our organized hikes?  Check out our Self-Guided Hikes page for information on several popular trails.  We recommend that you pick up a high-quality (and free) map at one of the local retailers listed on our Maps Page for accurate trailhead listings to locate the appropriate starting point.  Match it up with the hike described above.

More information on each of these trails may be found from the Forest Service or in the book "Trails Of The Wild Cabinets" available from Keokee Press.

Click on the map for a larger view

Map of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

For additional large sized, high resolution maps that you can download and print visit our "Maps" page