Find Nearby Peaks

Climbing and access information for this peak is on Page 212 of the book. Livingston Douglas contributed a new route and photos. The peak is not named in the book where I noted it formed a scenic backdrop to Baker Lake. Others quickly adopted the name Backdrop Peak. Updated November 2022

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This peak rises up directly behind Baker Lake in the northern section of the Smoky Mountains–hence the name. It is often climbed as part of a ridge traverse with Baker Peak and Peak 10137. USGS Baker Peak

Access

Baker Lake Trail, FST-211 [(A)(4)(a) on Page 213]

Northeast, South, and East Ridges, Class 2

All three ridges are easy scrambles.

North Face, Class 3 by Livingston Douglas

The Descent

From the summit, descend east on the semi-open ridge briefly then turn left/north and scramble down a semi-open face of steep talus/scree. Move right/east to the edge of a sheer cliff (with a deep gully beneath it). Descend north through ridge pines and steep scree/gravel. Move left/west into more open, safer rock to avoid sections of thick pines to the right/east. Finish by descending a steep but stable talus/scree slope to reach a semi-open pine forest and a high basin.

From the basin, bushwhack easily northeast down a forested dry gully that leads to the main gully that heads down (southeast then south) to Baker Lake. The main gully gets narrow and thick with rock/brush at times, so use an open scrub shoulder to its right/west as necessary lower down. You soon reach Baker Lake and a lakeside trail. Follow it left/east to the Baker Lake Trail at the lake’s outlet. Surprisingly, there is no climber’s trail from Baker Lake up the gully to the main north-south ridgeline.