DIRECTIONS
To Hyndman Peak TrailHead:

  • Find your way to Ketchum Idaho, a small town near Sun Valley.

  • Drive south of Ketchum on Highway 75 for 5.5 miles and turn east on East Fork Wood River Road (#118).

  • Travel 7 miles on East Fork Wood River Road and turn left onto Hyndman Creek Road (#203).

  • Continue 4.7 miles on Hyndman Creek Road to a gate and small parking area.

  • A sign marks the trailhead and two routes into the Hyndman Basin. The main trail heads due East in the direction of Cobb Peak (HYNDMAN CR. TR. #166), and a pack trail heads directly north directly toward Hyndman (N. FK. HYNDMAN CR. TR. #165).

 


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Hyndman Peak
Hike Date:   September, 2004

Difficulty:           2
Elevation Gain:  5,009'
Max Elevation:  12,100'



     Hyndman Peak is the ninth highest peak in Idaho at just over 12,000 feet. Located in the remote Pioneer Mountains just north of Sun Valley, the Hyndman Basin is used year round - Hiking and hunting during the summer and autumn months, and helicopter charters will drop you into the virgin snow for a ski run during the winter. I headed here in the late summer of 2005 to camp for a few days and enjoy this rugged region of the Sawtooth National Forest.

    While hiking some tall peaks requires sacrificing scenery for the sake of getting to the top, the trip up Hyndman Peak is much different - I was lucky enough to have a few days to enjoy the journey and soak in the beauty. The area can be popular at times, so I chose to trail blaze and didn’t see another soul after some encounters on the first day near the trailhead. The vegetation is nicely varied – I came across pine forests, aspen groves, sage meadows, and a handful of small lakes with pristine water. Depending on the route you choose, the hike can range from moderately easy to almost difficult.

    I chose to hike up the trailhead until encountering the first lake, and then turned up across a meadow after filling up on water. I always try to follow game trails when possible, I say to hell with staying on the beaten path – Plotting your own course and staying off the trail is much more rewarding. My goal was to find Pioneer cabin, built in 1937 for skiers, located in a basin nearby. Hoping nobody else would be camping there, I took my time, imagining the great view over the lake that would be enjoyed that night. I got so sidetracked exploring over the next couple days, that I never made it to the cabin. Just goes to show how much there is to offer here for the curious mind.

    If you need to get away for a few days and want to get off the beaten trail, this hiking destination has plenty of opportunities to lose yourself. I highly recommend visiting one of the many outdoor public hot springs in the area on your way out – Feels damn good after hiking the backcountry for a few days.