Date: July 25, 2000
Author: Ken Jones
!! Warning !!
It is advised that anyone planning to do these the "easy" way follow the driving instructions herein. We spent much of a day learning that the other roads to the summit area are barely ATV tracks in places. Notably, a pair of gentlemen on ATVs confirmed that the road from the east (out of the Pine Creek valley) not only was not passable to our Honda Accord (which we had already learned by inspection) but they would not drive their 4WD pickup on it, either.!! End Warning !!
From I-90 west of Pinehurst, take the exit on the east bank of the Coeur d'Alene River and head south on Latour Creek Road. This starts out paved; pavement ends 1.4 miles from the interstate. Follow Latour Creek Road southwesterly, staying on the main road in Latour Creek valley. Cross the creek on a bridge at 6.3 miles, and find a BLM sign identifying the Rochat Divide Road. Continue up the valley to the 9.8 mile mark. Turn left (a sign indicates the route to Twin Crags) and cross a bridge. Reset your odometer. Driving has been easy in a passenger car until here. We drove our overloaded Honda Accord the rest of the way, but you might want higher clearance. Follow the main, broad road as it winds up the hillside. At a main-road switchback at about 2.6 miles from Latour Creek, the key junction is reached. Go right, following the narrower road which contours out on the south facing slope of the ridge. (If you don't, you could waste a lot of time - trust me on this!) Follow the main road. It will eventually go up to near the top of the ridge, and then head easterly. My notes are sloppy, but I think they say to keep uphill (left) at several spurs; at about 2 miles from the key junction, bear left and switchback up hill. Stick to the old, main road past some new logging spurs. The road will near the ridge and switch back to the right. About 6 miles from the key junction, you'll reach the saddle between the two highpoints, with a sign indicating "Twin Crags". Park here. (A serious high-clearance vehicle may be able to continue to the saddle between Mount Wiessner and Twin Crags, or even to the lookout site. My Accord didn't make it. And turning it was a challenge.) Timing note - the six miles from the key junction to the saddle took between 45 minutes and an hour in my Accord. These roads aren't fast. From the saddle (~5850'), head north up the ridge to Latour Peak. Paths and easy cross country will bring you to the summit in about 1/3 mile and 550' gain. Return to the saddle.