Scotchman Peak Hike: Clark Fork, Idaho
Channel: Tarantulas with Shanti
Date: 29/05/2018

May 27, 2018

During this late May hike we encountered about five other groups of hikers. The weather was warm and the shady spots offered a refreshing breeze. We wore shorts and t-shirts and hiking boots with ankle support. I am glad I brought a monopod/hiking pole because at about 3/4 up the mountain we encountered a lot of slick snow and the trail became straight up and only navigable by following previous hikers. Furthermore, a group had slid down on their bums, so the trail became confusing. We didn't mind. It was a great challenge. We also encountered a defensive mountain goat near the summit. The last hikers of the day, and having been warned by the last hikers who descended, we knew we'd need to be wary.

Directions to Scotchman Peak:

Scotchman Peak Trail #65: Take Highway 200 to Clark Fork, Idaho then turn north at the Chevron Station onto Main Street. Follow this road past Clark Fork High School, and then around a bend to the right. At the intersection with Lightning Creek Road, set your trip odometer to 0. (Don’t turn here; keep going straight on Mosquito Creek Road.)

At 0.6 miles, keep left at the fork. At 2.1 miles, turn right on FR 2295. (There won’t be a sign marking it as FR 2295. It’s marked as such on the map. You’ll know you’re heading into the right neighborhood when you pass the sign telling you you’re entering grizzly bear habitat.)

 At 3.1 miles, turn left onto FR 2294. (Again, there won’t be a sign marking it as FR 2294. You’ll see a small sign pointing toward Trail 65.)  At mile 3.6, turn left on FR 2294A.  (And, yet again, there won’t be a sign marking it as FR 2294A. Again, you’ll see a small sign pointing toward Trail 65.) Follow FR 2294A for 2.2 more miles to the end of the road, where you’ll find the trail head. Look Up.

Courtesy of Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness
http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/

An excerpt from their website: 

"Looming above Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork River in the Cabinet Mountains, Scotchman Peak is the highest point in Bonner County, Idaho, at 7009 feet."