The Grass Mountains are located northeast of New Meadows and east of US-93 in the Payette National Forest. The Goose Creek/Hazard Lake Road parallels the east side of this subrange. This convoluted divide trends from north-to-south for roughly 16 miles and encompasses several mountain lakes and bald ridgelines that offer scenic vistas and good hiking.
In the book, I included Granite Mountain as part of the range and, as such, at 8,479 feet it would be the highest peak. However, I note that the Lists of John (LOJ) website excludes Granite Mountain from the range and instead names Peak 8180 (Grass Mountains High Point) as the range’s highest point. So, let’s go with the LOJ designation. The area around Peak 8180 includes 4 other peaks worth climbing: Serene Peak, Hard Peak, Grassy Twin Peak and Peak 8071.
Peak 8180 as viewed from Peak 8071. One of two claimants for the highest Grass Mountains summit.
Granite Mountain is the most rugged peak on the western edge of the Salmon River Mountains and is the second contestant for highest Grass Mountains summit. The fire lookout in 1990.
Mountain Range: Western Salmon River Mountains