Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published November 2023

---

Peak 8781 is a rugged, rock-and-forest ridgeline summit that sits above the headwaters of Fourth of July Creek in the Beaverhead Mountains. It is located west of the Continental Divide and the ID/MT border. Peak 8781 is most easily climbed from Fourth of July Creek Road at the bridge crossing of Fourth of July Creek. USGS Shewag Lake

Access

From US-93 north of Salmon, turn right/northeast onto [signed] Fourth of July Creek Road/FSR-071 [(A)(2) on Page 328] and reset your odometer. At 5.1 miles, reach the National Forest boundary at a cattle guard crossing. At 7.9 miles, reach an unsigned junction with two side roads. Since there is place to park at this junction, continue another 0.1 miles to a bridge crossing of Fourth of July Creek and park in a small pullout here (6,212 feet on map).

North Spur/West Ridge, Class 2-3

The Climb

From the roadside pullout, walk west on Fourth of July Creek Road for 0.1 miles to an unsigned junction. Hike west up an old 2-track road to reach the crest of the thickly-forested north spur. Leave the 2-track here and bushwhack south up the rounded ridge then follow the ridge southeast then east-southeast as it narrows and ridge rock joins the mix. Scramble east-southeast up the ridge crest to the summit.

East Ridge, Class 2-3

The Descent

From the summit, descend southeast then east then southeast in mostly forested terrain to reach a ridge saddle at 8,460 feet. This is the connecting saddle with Peak 9278.

North Ridge, Class 2-3

The Climb

From the bridge crossing, bushwhack southeast then east up Fourth of July Creek to a major fork in the creek drainage. Follow the south fork briefly then bushwhack west up onto the north ridge and follow it to the summit. This is a slightly longer route to the summit and requires a bushwhack along a creek drainage for almost two miles. If the bushwhack is not too onerous, this could be a better route than the North Spur/West Ridge Route.