Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published November 2022

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Pioneer Peak is located in the Soldier Mountain Ski Area north of Fairfield. It can be reached by a service road from Soldier Peak or can be hiked via a 2-track road (closed to motorized vehicles) from the Pioneer Campground on FSR-093, 0.3 miles up from the main ski parking area. USGS Phillips Creek

Access

Pioneer Campground is located 1.5 miles up FSR-093 from its junction with FSR-094/Couch Summit Road north of Fairfield. Park in a day use area on the right/east side of FSR-093 at the small campground where there is a toilet (5,840 feet).

East Face, Class 3

The Climb

From Pioneer Campground, walk a short distance south on FSR-093 to an unsigned junction with a gated/closed 2-track road that heads west up a gulch on the south side of Pioneer Peak. Hike west up the 2-track road to its end in the gully then follow a wide footpath that heads right/north and switchbacks its way partway up the east face but then heads left/south to contour over to Soldier Peak and climb its east face via a series of switchbacks. Leave the footpath and bushwhack west (or northwest, depending upon your departure point) up through steep sagebrush to reach the open summit of Pioneer Peak. The final scramble to the top is on steep, large boulders and goes at Class 3.

Southwest Ridge, Class 2

The Descent

From the summit, descend southwest in short scrub to a minor saddle where there is a 2-track service road. This 5,671-foot saddle is the connecting saddle between Pioneer Peak and nearby Soldier Peak. It concludes the first leg of today’s 2-peak adventure. Soldier Peak (7,177 feet) is up next.