Mt. Borah Trailhead

About

Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area sits at the foot of Idaho's highest summit, Mt. Borah at 12,662 feet, in the Lost River Range of Salmon-Challis National Forest. This small primitive campground serves primarily as a staging area for climbers attempting Idaho's only 12,000-foot peak via the strenuous 7-mile round-trip Borah Peak Trail. The camping area consists of five designated sites, four of which are equipped with fire rings and picnic tables. An accessible vault toilet is provided, but campers must bring their own drinking water as none is available on site. The fifth site at the end of the road serves as a turnaround area with parking for day hikers and picnickers. Nearby points of interest include the 1983 Borah Peak Earthquake interpretive site, where a magnitude 7.3 earthquake created a 21-mile-long fault scarp, and Mackay Reservoir to the south. The area offers outstanding views of the dramatic Lost River Range and provides access to backcountry hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Directions

From Mackay: Take US Highway 93 approximately 20 miles north to the Borah Peak Access Road. Turn west and follow the access road 3 miles to the trailhead. From Challis: Take US Highway 93 south to the Borah Peak Access Road and follow it 3 miles west to the trailhead.