Overview

This range of mountains covers an area 30 miles wide and 15 miles from north to south at the southern edge of Central Idaho, where they reach the South Fork of the Boise River. The Soldier Mountains are a great resource for outdoor recreation including hiking, climbing, and skiing.
The Soldier Mountains are a fairly dry range without any lakes and a small amount of trees. There are very few trails in the range, but the open area is perfect for cross-country hiking.

What makes the Soldier range remarkable is that from the valley floor, known as Camus Prairie, the mountains rise up nearly 5000 feet high without much in the way of foothills. There are a few rugged areas great for scrambling and climbing on the northern side. The highest point in the range is known as Smoky Dome, which rises up 10, 095 feet.

Location & Information

The Soldier Mountains can be found along the northern edge of the Camas Prairie, north of Fairfield in Southcenteral Idaho. Because this particular mountain range has few foothills, the peaks of the mountains rising from the valley floor are easily seen from Highway 20.
The area is open for exploration year round. However, winter weather can make travel difficult in the area.

The Soldier Mountains are administered by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (800) 260-5970.

Activities

Hiking
Only about 30 miles in area, the Soldiers sport a number of good opportunities for hiking. However, only two are noticeably outstanding. Smoky Dome and Iron Mountain dwarf other peaks in the area and are the crowning jewels of the range. These two peaks can be found on the western slopes of the Soldiers.

The eastern end of the Soldier Mountains is scenic but not as high as the western peaks. Cannonball Mountain, Sydney Butte, Couch, and Liberal Mountains are all "family hike" type peaks with easily reached summits with rewarding views.

Camping
Camping is not recommended in the higher regions of the Soldier Mountains, as the exposure to the elements is extreme – even in the summer. Rustic camping is fun along the Fairfield River in the lower lying areas along the southern edge of the Mountains. Developed campgrounds in the vicinity include Carrie Creek Campground, Five Points Campground, Little Smoky Campground, Narrows Campground, and Soldier Creek RV Park.

Skiing/Snowboarding
In the winter, skiers and boarders are attracted to the Soldier Mountain ski resort located in Fairfield, with its small crowds and low prices. The resort boasts 36 runs with great access to the backcountry via snowcat. There is also a renowned terrain park for boarders and jibbers to practice their moves.

Fun Facts

The winds in this area are some of the strongest in the state of Idaho, particularly during winter. The weather station located on the eastern slopes of Smoky Dome commonly record winds of over 100 MPH during winter snowstorms.