Pleasant, easy hike with fantastic views. Given the work of the drive, you may want to lengthen the hike with a ridge-walk. I walked another couple miles North, and another mile South along the dirt-bike/horse trail. About 1/2 mile North of peak, aircraft wreckage is strewn all over, from the ridge down a few hundred yards down the West slope. It's from an F-111A crash in 1969. Crew of 2 was killed, and it was months before the wreck was located. The site was "re-discovered" by dirt bikers in 1998.
The "road" up to the trailhead described here is now definitely high-clearance, 4WD low. Several miles North (about 9.2 miles from the I-80 exit), there's a new road cut in climbing up the West slope (I think by Newmont Mining?) that leads up 6 miles and 3K feet to the crest. Road is steep, with super-tight switchbacks, but well-graded. From here it would be an easy ~2 mile ridge-walk, following horse-trails, South to the summit.
joseyinnet - Apr 8, 2013 11:51 am Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2012
backup plan
Tried to climb Pilot Peak but turned back because of the weather, so figured I could do this easy one instead. Kind of rough driving in a lot of places, pretty cold and windy too, but very enjoyable.
Kadee - Oct 22, 2009 11:55 am Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
Horse Trail
Great hike with Dean and Ken. Very enjoyable area.
Dean - Aug 30, 2009 8:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
Fun hike
When we couldn't get Pilot Peak due to the weather, we substituted this peak and Spruce Mtn. As it turned out, this was a really fun hike thanks to companions Kadee and Ken J.
aobbard - Sep 8, 2015 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2015
Easy peak, rough roadPleasant, easy hike with fantastic views. Given the work of the drive, you may want to lengthen the hike with a ridge-walk. I walked another couple miles North, and another mile South along the dirt-bike/horse trail. About 1/2 mile North of peak, aircraft wreckage is strewn all over, from the ridge down a few hundred yards down the West slope. It's from an F-111A crash in 1969. Crew of 2 was killed, and it was months before the wreck was located. The site was "re-discovered" by dirt bikers in 1998.
The "road" up to the trailhead described here is now definitely high-clearance, 4WD low. Several miles North (about 9.2 miles from the I-80 exit), there's a new road cut in climbing up the West slope (I think by Newmont Mining?) that leads up 6 miles and 3K feet to the crest. Road is steep, with super-tight switchbacks, but well-graded. From here it would be an easy ~2 mile ridge-walk, following horse-trails, South to the summit.
joseyinnet - Apr 8, 2013 11:51 am Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2012
backup planTried to climb Pilot Peak but turned back because of the weather, so figured I could do this easy one instead. Kind of rough driving in a lot of places, pretty cold and windy too, but very enjoyable.
Kadee - Oct 22, 2009 11:55 am Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
Horse TrailGreat hike with Dean and Ken. Very enjoyable area.
Dean - Aug 30, 2009 8:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
Fun hikeWhen we couldn't get Pilot Peak due to the weather, we substituted this peak and Spruce Mtn. As it turned out, this was a really fun hike thanks to companions Kadee and Ken J.