Hey fellow hikers and summit chasers! I am going to share how to hike Borah Peak and successfully summit the tallest peak in Idaho.
How Tall is Borah Peak?
Mount Borah sits at 12,662 feet and is located in the Lost River Range. It is the tallest peak in the Lost River Range, and actually in all of Idaho! Locally known as Mount Borah the hike will ask you to ascend over 5,301 feet to its peak. The bare limestone towers over the valley below, colored grey with orange hues.
*Quick Note* You can get my photography prints of Borah Peak right here: https://earthtosarah.darkroom.com/products/idaho-views/390517
How Long is the Hike up Mount Borah?
The hike is relatively short for a summit. The standard route begins at Birch Springs and is 4.1 miles to the peak, making the round trip hike to Borah is 8.2 miles. It is an extremely steep hike. Hiking 5,301 feet over only 4 miles is pretty tough! Be prepared for one of the steepest hikes, and some scrambling. The ridge is considered a class 3 climb. It is a decent trail that leads you to the top, but “Chicken out Ridge” is not a just a hike. For me personally, the ridge and scramble took much longer than the actual hike! Our group took about 9 hours total from the beginning of the hike, to our hang out at the summit, and down again to our campsite. We began our hike at 4AM and made it through the trees well before sunrise. You don’t want to be on the peak in the afternoon because the chances of a storm are greater.
Chicken Out Ridge
You’ll hike to Chicken out Ridge at about 11,200 feet (according to my watch which was logging our hike,) and takes you up to 11,700 feet. This means you’ll be climbing for about 500 feet. Ropes were not necessary for our group who all had experience climbing and hiking hard hikes, although would have been nice for that security net. There are multiple “no fall zones” where you really cannot fall. Thankfully it is very possible to keep 3 points of contact at all times, and me being only 5’2 and being able to reach all the necessary hand holds, it is not too technical of a climb. It is a very secure feeling scramble!
New to hiking? You can book a guide who can provide ropes for you if you do not have this experience. Find the Sawtooth Guides here for the safest option of summiting: https://sawtoothguides.com
Summiting Mount Borah
Once you’ve successfully scrambled over Chicken out Ridge, and down the daunting wall drop-off at the end, you get to continue up to the summit! It is a hard and very steep push up. Be careful for falling rock as the scree is loose. Prepare for this type of terrain if you have not ever hiked on scree.
Summiting is the BEST FEELING EVER! Take photos with the Borah Peak sign and enjoy views of towering limestone mountains all around. 360 views of the Lost River Range and others!
The decent is just as tough as the ascent. Know that your knees are going to hurt on the way down. I brought trekking poles and was grateful I had them. These are the poles I used and still use to this day: https://amzn.to/4aOkh3j
Where to Camp
We camped at the Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area. There were not a ton of spots available because we didn’t arrive until later in the day, and there are really only a few to begin with. You cannot make a reservation. We ended up getting a nice one in the trees and made a new friend who was okay with us coming in pretty close to his campsite. We all hiked up together the next morning so it was a win-win! There is an accessible vault toilet, but no water. It costs $5 to camp here. The closest town is Mackay.
Tips on Hiking Mount Borah
- There is no permit needed to summit this mountain.
- Make sure you leave no trace anywhere on your journey.
- This hike is rated as *hard* so make sure to train before. Ways I got in shape are stair stepper, running long distance, agility training, climbing in a gym.
- Bring a lot of water! I drank 2.5 liters and ran out right at the end. If I did it again I would bring an electrolyte drink too. My favorite is Liquid IV(get $5 off with my link) https://glnk.io/qv1w/earthtosarahphotos
- Bring snacks! A yummy treat to restore energy at the summit is so great!
- Bring warm clothes. It is chilly at the summit and the weather can change in a dime. I wore a rain jacket, a fleece, and a long sleeve shirt. My leggings were thermal.
- Bring sturdy, broken-in boots. You must have good boots for this hike. The trial is all rocks and you want to be sure footed – especially in the no fall zones. These are the boots I use: https://amzn.to/3TUYUGG
- Bring your camera! The views from above are so good, I was happy I had mine. I shoot with the Sony a7riii, and the lens I use is in this bundle: https://amzn.to/3TUVqEk
I hope you enjoyed my blog and my experience of summiting Borah Peak, the tallest mountain in Idaho! Get after it and be safe out there. If you’d like to see more photos and videos of my adventures, find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthtosarahphotos
Here is a funny reel I made about Borah too: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5ixvuBLwq6/?igsh=ZWJobHFwZGZ0aWwy
Earth To Sarah 