Sheep Mountain
Traveling northwest along the lonely stretch of Idaho called Hwy 28, one can't help but gaze up at the mountains that parallel the pavement on both sides of the road. The Beaverheads on the right and the Lemhis, on the left. As you make your way along the Birch Creek valley you will pass mighty Diamond peak and then glimpse Bell Mountain through gaps in lesser peaks to the left. Peak after peak line the ranges for as far as the eye can see.
Summers are hot and winters are bitter cold. Very few people live in this valley. One little store (Lone Pine Cafe) and a ranch house or two dot the countryside. There was a time when this valley saw a furor of activity. The area was the scene of mining for many years and the remains of this activity are still evident today. Many mine shafts dot the mountainsides and old cabins are slowly decaying to dust.
Sheep Mountain on the left - From Gilmore Peak
The climb up Sheep Mountain is interesting from the mining aspect and at the same time will allow you to experience one of the wildest areas of the state.
There is an old abandoned Bulldozer on the approach that dates from the pre-hydraulic era (cables were used to raise and lower the blade). A yellow relic of an era gone by.
Oddly, this peak harbors not Big Horn Sheep, but rather a herd of Mountain Goats. I surprised this herd (and my-self) just below the summit. In a blink of an eye, all that remained was little white fluffs of hair that stuck to the rocks here and there.
Getting There
From Idaho Falls Idaho, drive north on I-15 for 24 miles to "Sage Junction". From Sage Junction, drive west on 33 for 15 miles through the small towns of Terreton and Mud Lake. Just west of Mudlake take 28 (to the right) and drive 52 miles northwest to the signed Spring Mountain road. Turn left onto this dirt road and drive a couple of miles to the mouth of Spring Mountain Canyon. Unless you are driving a 4WD this is where you will have to park. The old mining road is very rough but passable to 4WD for another mile* or so.
The canyon is littered with old cabins and remains of mining activity.
* One of the roads is in fair to poor shape and I have seen 4WD outfits drive to the Lemhi divide and continue over into Sawmill Canyon. I don't think I would do it, and surely do not recommend it, but it can be done. One of the highest, if not the THE highest cabin built in Idaho sits at the top of this divide and it is still standing. There is also the remains of an old Volvo rusting away nearby.
Red Tape
No red tape. Use your good judgment in regards to how far up the canyon you drive before you park.
When To Climb
The Lemhi Range is in a rain/snow shadow and receives less precipitation than the neighboring ranges to the west. It can normally be climbed from around May to early November.
Camping
There are many places to camp in and around Spring Mountain Canyon. There is a small stream flowing most of the time that offers H2O to the camper/scrambler...
Mountain Conditions
Challis Salmon National Forest
RR2 Box 600
Salmon, ID 83467
208-756-5100
Route Information- Spring Mountain Approach
This mountain is easily climbed from the Spring Mountain Canyon. See the above directions to get to this point.
There are a myriad amount of old mining roads that reach the Lemhi divide just to the SE of Sheep Mountain. Once on the divide it is an easy scramble to the summit. A small amount of route finding and scrambling is needed to get to this broad summit.
JB Harris
Summers are hot and winters are bitter cold. Very few people live in this valley. One little store (Lone Pine Cafe) and a ranch house or two dot the countryside. There was a time when this valley saw a furor of activity. The area was the scene of mining for many years and the remains of this activity are still evident today. Many mine shafts dot the mountainsides and old cabins are slowly decaying to dust.
Sheep Mountain on the left - From Gilmore Peak
The climb up Sheep Mountain is interesting from the mining aspect and at the same time will allow you to experience one of the wildest areas of the state.
There is an old abandoned Bulldozer on the approach that dates from the pre-hydraulic era (cables were used to raise and lower the blade). A yellow relic of an era gone by.
Oddly, this peak harbors not Big Horn Sheep, but rather a herd of Mountain Goats. I surprised this herd (and my-self) just below the summit. In a blink of an eye, all that remained was little white fluffs of hair that stuck to the rocks here and there.
Getting There
From Idaho Falls Idaho, drive north on I-15 for 24 miles to "Sage Junction". From Sage Junction, drive west on 33 for 15 miles through the small towns of Terreton and Mud Lake. Just west of Mudlake take 28 (to the right) and drive 52 miles northwest to the signed Spring Mountain road. Turn left onto this dirt road and drive a couple of miles to the mouth of Spring Mountain Canyon. Unless you are driving a 4WD this is where you will have to park. The old mining road is very rough but passable to 4WD for another mile* or so.
The canyon is littered with old cabins and remains of mining activity.
* One of the roads is in fair to poor shape and I have seen 4WD outfits drive to the Lemhi divide and continue over into Sawmill Canyon. I don't think I would do it, and surely do not recommend it, but it can be done. One of the highest, if not the THE highest cabin built in Idaho sits at the top of this divide and it is still standing. There is also the remains of an old Volvo rusting away nearby.
Red Tape
No red tape. Use your good judgment in regards to how far up the canyon you drive before you park.
When To Climb
The Lemhi Range is in a rain/snow shadow and receives less precipitation than the neighboring ranges to the west. It can normally be climbed from around May to early November.
Camping
There are many places to camp in and around Spring Mountain Canyon. There is a small stream flowing most of the time that offers H2O to the camper/scrambler...
Mountain Conditions
Challis Salmon National Forest
RR2 Box 600
Salmon, ID 83467
208-756-5100
Route Information- Spring Mountain Approach
This mountain is easily climbed from the Spring Mountain Canyon. See the above directions to get to this point.
There are a myriad amount of old mining roads that reach the Lemhi divide just to the SE of Sheep Mountain. Once on the divide it is an easy scramble to the summit. A small amount of route finding and scrambling is needed to get to this broad summit.
JB Harris
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