- Hyndman Peak is located southeast of Sun Valley.
- The best time to climb Hyndman Peak is July through October.
- Climbers typically find Hyndman Peak to be the easiest climb of all the peaks in Idaho over 12,000 feet.
- The roundtrip hike about 12 miles, with an elevation gain of roughly 5,000 feet.
Overview
With the exception of Hyndman Peak, all of Idaho's 12,000 foot peaks are challenging class 3 routes. While not as technical, Hyndman still presents a roundtrip of 12 miles with a 5,000 foot gain. Once you reach the summit, you will be greeted with marvelous views of the entire Pioneer range, as well as the Sawtooth Mountains and Challis National Forest.
Location & Information
To get to the trailhead for Hyndman Peak turn east onto the East Fork Wood River Road from Highway 75. The turnoff is about 5.5 miles south of the town of Ketchum. Reset your odometer. You will reach the small village of Triumph at 5.8 miles, just keep heading east on the road.
Shortly after Triumph the road becomes dirt. Continue east on the road when you see the turn-off for the Hyndman Creek trailhead at 7.2 miles. Take a left onto Forest Service road 203 at the fork. Follow 203 until it meets up with the confluence of the North Fork Hyndman Creek and Hyndman Creek and the trailhead. Park here. Cross Hyndman Creek on a foot bridge and follow the old jeep road through aspens and meadows along Hyndman Creek.
This area is administrated by Sawtooth National Recreation Area (800) 260-5970.
Climbing
Situated close to Sun Valley, Hyndman Peak is the largest mountain in the Pioneer range. Hyndman Peak stands at 12,009 feet, making it the 9th highest peak in Idaho. With routes ranging from class 2 to 4, this climb can be done in a day or broken up by camping overnight.
Although there are some more strenuous routes, climbers typically find Hyndman Peak to be the easiest climb of all the peaks over 12,000 feet. The main route is along the southwest slopes, which can be reached from a gravel road along Hyndman Creek to the south of the mountain. Another common route is along the east ridge from the saddle between Hyndman Peak and its neighbor, Old Hyndman Peak.
For those looking for a more challenging, technical climb, try the northeast face, which requires mixed climbing to the summit.
The best time to climb Hyndman Peak is July through October.
