47

Ruffneck Peak

Distance: 8.4 miles roundtrip

Total Elevation gain: 2,400 feet

Difficulty: Difficult

Elevation Range: 7,100 feet to 9,400 feet

Topographic Map: Langer Peak, Cape Horn Lakes

Time: 4 hours to 6 hours

Distance to trailhead: 25.3 miles

Water Availability: Several steams; Langer Lake; a couple of ponds

Cautionary Advice: No water is available the last 1.5 miles of the trail to the lookout. Watch for approaching thunderstorms at the top of Ruffneck Peak.

Additional Information: Salmon Challis National Forest, Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District (208) 879-4100

Trailhead:

North 44d27.962West 115d06.185

Ruffneck Lookout:

North 44d28.904 West 115d09.300

Ruffneck Peak

The panoramic vista from Ruffneck Peak is spectacular and offers some of the best views described in this book. The fire lookout at the top provides a wonderful location for taking in the ruggedness of the surrounding terrain. Many lakes-including Rocky Lake, Langer Lake, Ruffneck Lake, Island Lake, and several others-shimmer below the peak’s edge. The trail leading up to the lookout is also pleasant as it passes through lush forest, boulder fields and along wildflower-scattered hillsides.

Trailhead Directions

From Stanley, drive west 18.2 miles on Highway 21. Turn right, or north, on the well-graded forest road 083. A forest sign on Highway 21 indicates the “Seafoam Area, Bradley Boy Scout Camp and the Lola Creek Campground.” Turn right and immediately come to another junction. Turn right towards the Seafoam Area, cross Marsh Creek on a bridge and then

7

Coordinates

The Day Hiker's Guide to Stanley, Idaho

Hiking Idaho | www.hikingidaho.com

48

turn left on forest road 40008. Follow this road an additional 6.8 miles to the trailhead parking area on the right. The last two miles are washboarded.

The Hike

Follow Hike 5 to Langer Lake. From Langer Lake, the trail climbs gently along the south side of Langer Lake and arrives at a signed junction in 2.3 miles. The left trail, which is not shown on the Cape Horn Lakes quad, visits several lakes and ponds. Turn right at this junction to “Ruffneck L.O.“ and at 2.5 miles, reach yet another junction. Turn left here through forest.At 2.7 miles, the trail will skirt a pond on the right. This is the last reliable water source on the way to Ruffneck Peak. Leave the woods and begin a 600-foot climb as you enter a boulder field. Begin the first of two switchbacks at 3.3 miles with outstanding views below of Island and Ruffneck Lakes, and then reach a signed junction on a divide at 8,900 feet. The sign indicates the lookout is 1 mile from here but it is actually 0.7 mile. Views are remarkable.Turn right at the junction and begin a long traverse up the west side of the mountain. The trail skirts a talus field and begins the first of two switchbacks at 3.9 miles. After the second switchback, the trail turns left, along a ridge with superlative views on both the left and right. Arrive at the mountaintop and lookout at 4.2 miles.

View on ridge below Ruffneck Peak.

The Day Hiker's Guide to Stanley, Idaho

Hiking Idaho | www.hikingidaho.com

5 LANGER LAKE/ISLAND LAKE/RUFFNECK LAKE/ 6 UPPER FINGER LAKE/ 7 ROUGHNECK PEAK

The Day Hiker's Guide to Stanley, Idaho

Hiking Idaho | www.hikingidaho.com