Clark County High Point Trip Report
Date: August 14, 2001
Authors: Ken & Karen Jones
Drive: From Idaho route 28, take the DeLorme mapped "Nicholia Road" (signed on the ground to Nicholia
Ranch) heading northeast from the bend about 5 to 6 miles north of the Lemhi/Butte county line.
Follow this excellent dirt road about 3 miles to the base of the mountains and turn right on a road heading southeast
(there was a sign lying on the ground here pointing to Italian and Scott Canyons). Follow the main track
southeast (sorry, no road log, and there are some uncertain spots) about 4 to 5 miles to the Scott Canyon
Road. The first major road heading into a canyon at a "Y" is Italian Canyon; keep right here. When you get
to the Scott Canyon road you will pass several signs within a couple of hundred feet of the southeast
trending road; these signs indicate "Scott Canyon", "Targhee National Forest", and "190" which is the USFS
route number. If you don't find them soon after the turn, you're probably headed up Italian Canyon.
Follow USFS road 190 to its end at 7700' in Scott Canyon - a split-rail fence bars further driving, and the trail is
signed "Closed to motorized vehicles". You can probably get here in a passenger sedan in dry weather with
careful driving, barring further deterioration of the road. Note: The USFS map and Tom Lopez's book
indicate that you can drive road 190 from Highway 28. This is no longer true - the route passed through a
major spring area (apparently the source of most of the water in Birch Creek) which has been closed to
motorized vehicles. We looked around on our way in and out, and think the Nicholia Road route is the best
available today.
Hike: Follow the trail northeast beyond the fence (signed trail 006). In a bit under a mile you will reach a
junction (7993 on the 1987 Scott Peak quad). Note this spot for your return (trail 006 is obscure at this
point, except for a small sign), and bear right.
Follow the main (ATV?) trail to its highpoint on a ridge at 8,975 ft.
From here, head cross-country (passing through the mouths of two canyons) to the ridge dropping
southwest from Webber Peak. Head up this steep, rough ridge all the way to Webber Peak. It is high class
2 if you pick your way carefully. There is a spot at around 10,600 which is interesting class 3 if you don't go
around it - we'd recommend bypassing it to the east. At the summit of Webber Peak you will find a register.
Turn right and head out to the Clark county highpoint, which is the closed contour about 500 meters east of
Webber Peak (sighting and GPS work show that the small piece of 11,200+' terrain at the county line is
lower than the closed contour). You can stay on or very near the top of the ridge all the way. No register
was found or left. (On your return, consider running the ridge the other way to Scott Peak, which is one of
the highest prominence peaks in Idaho.) On the way down, we found it easier to drop into the canyon
northwest of the ridge we'd ascended, once we were below the cliffs (~10,200'?). We were glad we hadn't
come up that way, though, due to the loose footing.