Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published November 2020

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Prospect Peak is a small, rugged outcrop that towers over Beartrap Canyon to its south. It is most easily climbed via its north ridge from FST-121. The northeast face is a sheer cliff. The summit perch offers superb views. Climb Prospect Peak in combination with nearby Red Butte (8,108 feet) and Temple Peak WY (8,219 feet) to make it a fuller adventure. USGS Temple Peak

Access

From the  Caribou-Targhee National Forest office on US-26 at the north end of Idaho Falls, drive 13.6 miles east on US-26 to a signed junction for the Kelly Canyon ski area. Turn left/north onto a paved road. Set your odometer to 0.0 here. At 1.9 miles, go right at an unsigned junction. At 3.1 miles, cross the Snake River on a bridge then immediately reach a “T” junction. Go right/east here onto Heise Road.

At 5.4 miles, go left at a signed fork in the road. At 7.9 miles, enter the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. You are now on FSR-218. At 8.9 miles, reach a signed junction with FSR-217 (the “Y” junction). Go straight here to stay on FSR-218. At 19.4 miles, reach a signed junction with FSR-651 (right). Go right onto FSR-651 and drive 1.8 miles east on FSR-651 to its end at the trailhead parking area for FST-077 (an ATV trail). The trailhead elevation is 7,220 feet.

North Ridge, Class 2

The Climb

Hike up FST-077 for 1.2 miles to a [signed] trail junction. Go right onto FST-121. Follow FST-121 east for 0.8 miles to a [signed] trail junction. Go right to remain on FST-121. FST-121 is now a narrow MC trail. Hike 0.4 miles up FST-121 to a ridge saddle that sits between Red Butte and Prospect Peak. Leave the trail and bushwhack south up the ridge crest in a combination of pines, thick brush, and patches of aspens.

The ridge crest soon becomes very clogged with bushes and brush, so move to its right/west side for angled, but better, going. Higher up, there is a dense section of aspens that is best crossed on the ridge crest rather than on the right/west side. Just below the summit, bash through a thick patch of willows to reach the small, rocky summit of Prospect Peak. I rebuilt the torn-down summit cairn. The open summit offers a magnificent view of both Red Butte to the north and Temple Peak (WY) to the east.