Thompson Peak (Idaho)
Encyclopedia
Thompson Peak, at 10751 feet (3,276.9 m) high is the highest peak in the Sawtooth Range
of Idaho
. The top of Thompson Peak is located within Custer County
, although some of the lower portion of the mountain is in Boise County
. Thompson Peak is also located within the Sawtooth Wilderness
portion of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
. The town of Stanley, Idaho
is about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Thompson Peak. The Sawtooth Mountains are often considered to be Idaho's most famous mountain range.
Redfish Lake
and Little Redfish Lake
and the visitor services at these locations are only a few miles from Thompson Peak. Directly to the north is neighboring Williams Peak
.
There are a total of four routes to the top of Thompson Peak: South Couloir - , Southwest Couloir - 5.2, Northeast Face - 5.8, West Crack - 5.2. The easiest way to access Thompson Peak is from the Redfish Lake trailhead and to take the Fishhook Creek Trail to the Alpine Way Trail. From there, follow the Alpine Way Trail to the base of Williams Peak before going off trail up to an unnamed lake to the northeast of Thompson Peak. Then, head up to the saddle between Thompson and Williams Peaks before making the class 3 scramble on the west-southwest side of the peak.
Sawtooth Range (Idaho)
The Sawtooth Range is part of the Rocky Mountains, located within a few miles south of Stanley, Idaho, in the Western United States. Much of mountain range is within the Sawtooth Wilderness, part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area...
of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. The top of Thompson Peak is located within Custer County
Custer County, Idaho
Custer County is a rural mountain county located in the center of the U.S. state of Idaho. Established in 1881, it was named for the General Custer Mine, where gold was discovered five years earlier . The population was 4,342 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have fallen to 4,166 by 2007...
, although some of the lower portion of the mountain is in Boise County
Boise County, Idaho
Boise County is a rural mountain county in the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census; it was estimated at 7,571 in 2007...
. Thompson Peak is also located within the Sawtooth Wilderness
Sawtooth Wilderness
The Sawtooth Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Idaho. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The Wilderness was upgraded in 1972 from "primitive area" status, affording greater protections of the habitat...
portion of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area located in central Idaho, within the Boise, Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests. The recreation area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and includes the Sawtooth Wilderness...
. The town of Stanley, Idaho
Stanley, Idaho
Stanley is a city in Custer County, Idaho, United States. The population was 100 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Idaho is located in Stanley.-Geography:...
is about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Thompson Peak. The Sawtooth Mountains are often considered to be Idaho's most famous mountain range.
Redfish Lake
Redfish Lake
Redfish Lake is an alpine lake in central Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains in Custer County....
and Little Redfish Lake
Little Redfish Lake
Little Redfish Lake is a name given to two different alpine lakes in central Idaho, both in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Custer County. This article refers to the lake on Redfish Lake Creek downstream of Redfish Lake and south of Stanley...
and the visitor services at these locations are only a few miles from Thompson Peak. Directly to the north is neighboring Williams Peak
Williams Peak (Idaho)
Williams Peak, at high is the 6th highest peak in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho and is located within the Sawtooth Wilderness portion of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area . The peak lies at 44.15240°N / 115.0057°W and is .75 miles north-northwest of Thompson Peak, the highest peak in the...
.
There are a total of four routes to the top of Thompson Peak: South Couloir - , Southwest Couloir - 5.2, Northeast Face - 5.8, West Crack - 5.2. The easiest way to access Thompson Peak is from the Redfish Lake trailhead and to take the Fishhook Creek Trail to the Alpine Way Trail. From there, follow the Alpine Way Trail to the base of Williams Peak before going off trail up to an unnamed lake to the northeast of Thompson Peak. Then, head up to the saddle between Thompson and Williams Peaks before making the class 3 scramble on the west-southwest side of the peak.