Take the Inkom Idaho Ext off of I-15 (approx.13 miles south of Pocatello Id). Going through the town of Inkom, take Rapid Creek Rd to Inman Rd. which will be on your right. This road turns into FS road 018 and goes to the Trail Head, (42.50.15 N, 112.10.47W).
From Pocatello Idaho go South on I-15 until you reach the McCammon Idaho exit. From there take highway 30 towards Lava Hot Springs. Before you begin your accent up Fish Creek pass heading to Soda Springs Id you will see a highway sign saying Blazer Hwy on your left before you cross the Portneuf River. Take this old Hwy North approx 9 miles. You will see a FS sign saying Big Springs Camp Ground. Take a left on the Pebble Creek Rd that heads to the campground. Before you reach the campground you will see a road to your right call Long Gulch Rd on maps...
From Pocatello Idaho go South on I-15. Turn off onto Highway 30 towards Lava Hot Springs. Proceed to the Lava Hot Springs golf course and take Smith Canyon Rd South approximately 3.2 miles until you hit the Forest Service Boundry at 42.54653, -112.06385. There is no trailhead so you will have to park safely on one of the nearby pullouts.
Proceed South from Pocatello Idaho to Mink Creek Recreation area. Traavel South on the main Mink Creek Rd. which turns into South Mink Creek. On your right hand side heading south you will see a ORV turning right (42.70139 -112.43832). This ORV road is Clifton Creek which takes you to Elk Meadows. You will take this road approx. 6.2 miles. At 42.74659 -112.47098 you will come to a junction of roads. Here you will begin your hiking approach to the summit.
This summit is located off of Highway 30 Northwest of Soda Springs ID. Turn North off of Hwy 30 at the Old Oregon Trail highway. Take this road a couple of miles until you reach Windmill Flat Rd on your right. Follow this road approx. 1.75miles stopping at the cattle guard. From here you will see an old 4 wheeler trail going up the fence line on your right which is now closed by the BLM. Follow the fenceline until the corner posts. Here you will need to bushwhack approx 1.3 miles to the summit. There is approxiately 1000 ft lift in this bushwhack.
This is a nice drive up summit with either a high clearance vehicle or ORV. From Idaho Falls, Idaho, take Hwy US 20 past Rexburg ID and turn off at Exit 339 toward ID-33 Driggs/Jackson Hole exit. Go through the small town of Teton and proceed East 16 miles to Canyon Creek RD on your right. You will merge onto N Canyon Creek Rd and pass Green Canyon Hot Springs. Stay on this road a couple of miles until you see a FS sign saying Relay Ridge trail 219 on your left. Stay on 219 approx 9 miles on this 4 wheel drive/OVR road and it will take you to Ryans Peak.
Badger Peak is a easy 4 pt summit. Mostly a drive up with about a 1 mile hike to AZ. There is about 650 ft of vertical lift from the parking place.
This summit is on BLM land but is landlocked by a large private ranch. I lucked out and talked to the ranch manager and explained SOTA to him, and since it has never been activated, he had his ranchhand escort me to the summit to activate it. He emphasized, in a very nice way, but in no uncertain terms that no one, including myself would activate it again since the access to it is on the ranches property.
*as a side note, they have and will prosecute trespassers so be forewarned.
Thanks,
Bill- de N0DNF
Located approximately 50 miles South of Pocatello Idaho. Take the Downey Idaho exit from I-15 . Head south on Highway 91 which takes you through Downey. Turn right onto the old highway 191 (old Malad Hwy). Watch for Cherry Creek road which will be on your left and takes you to the Cherry Creek Campground/Trailhead.
W7I/SI-151 is located near Lava Hot Springs Idaho. The summit is on Idaho Public Land but accessed through posted private land. You MUST get permission from the land owner who is generally reasonable when permission is asked and he has no cultivated crops.