AE7AP's blog

11.3-miles, +3,828 ft; -574 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead

I activated this as the first summit on a multi-day backpacking trip.  We camped at Canyon Lake and climbed from there.  There is also camping at Lake Otatsy and Camp Pass.  The entire route, including the Lake Otatsy area was burned in the 2017 Rice Ridge fire, so care should be taken in selecting a camp to minimize the danger from standing dead trees.  Most of the area around Canyon Lake is not burnt.

240 feet from road to summit, +10 ft elevation

This is a short hike through dense regrowth in an old clearcut.

From the Bernice Exit on I-15 (Exit 151) between Boulder and Butte, take the Boulder River Road west as follows:

0.0          Exit I-15 at Bernice

0.5 miles, +160 ft, -35 ft

This is a short hike to a rocky knob on the continental divide.

From the Bernice Exit on I-15 (Exit 151) between Boulder and Butte, take the Boulder River Road west as follows:

0.0          Exit I-15 at Bernice

1.5 miles, +690 ft

The trailhead can be reached from either the Bernice exit on I-15, or the Galen exit on I-90 south of Deer Lodge.  Both roads are suitable for all vehicles.  These instructions are from I-90.

W7M/GA-046, Cliff Mountain

2.1 miles, +760 ft, -130 ft

0.9 miles, +500 ft, -100 ft

This is a pleasant hike through a thick lodgepole pine forest.  The summit is a grassy meadow with some trees and views of the forested hills to the west.  It is prudent to take a chain saw for the drive in, in case if the road is blocked.  Note that the road is not open to motorized use from Oct. 15 – June 30.  The road is suitable for all vehicles.

On-Trail, 2.5 miles, +2,240 ft

Baldy Mountain is a locally popular on-trail hike to one of the high points in the East Pioneer Mountains.  The foundation of the old fire lookout provides some shelter in the event of windy conditions.  We saw one other party on the mountain on a nice Saturday during the summer.

0.5 mi, +200 feet

4.3 mi, +2,800 feet; -80 feet

From the town of Augusta, drive west past Nilan Reservoir to the vicinity of the Benchmark Airport.  The trailhead is near the south end of the airport runway 0.15 miles after crossing the bridge over Fairview Creek.  The trail (Fairview Creek, TR-204) is clearly marked.  Park in the wide area alongside the road just past the trailhead.  The Benchmark road is a gravel road that is suitable for all vehicles.

1.6 mi, +1,300 feet, -40 feet

This is an easy off-trail hike.  There are likely nice views from the summit, but it was socked in when I was there, so I can’t say for sure.