Shoshone County High Point Trip Report

Illinois Peak (7,690 ft)

Date: September 3, 2001
Author: Ken Jones

Note: You'd think I'd learn to take notes with mileage, but I can't find any. Oh, well, it's not hard.

Drive: Leave Interstate 90 at Superior, MT (exit #47). On the southwest side of the freeway, take the frontage road headed east-southeast. In about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 miles, an obvious road heads south up Cedar Creek canyon - this is Forest Road 320. Take it. The pavement turns to gravel, but the road is good (passenger cars should have no trouble all the way to the trailhead). Keep left at a major fork with FR 7865 and follow FR 320 to a fork with FR 388 on the left (there's a bridge here). Go left on FR 388, and follow it past a number of mines until it crests at Freezeout Pass. Park here (Andy-Martin-types might try to drive a bit farther).

Hike: At Freezeout Pass, on your right (west) there are two roadways. One is moderately drive-able and heads onto a north-facing slope. The other goes right up the ridge, and is labeled as the Illinois Peak Trail. While it could possibly be driven for a distance, we chose to walk. Hike the old road through the woods. After a while it emerges onto a south-facing slope, and the well-traveled tread bears up and right, becoming a trail (the old road continues down, but is overgrown). Follow the trail to the summit of Illinois Peak, where you will find a register.

Round-trip hiking statistics: 5 miles, 1500 feet of gain.