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Staying in Sun Valley or Ketchum? Galena Peak is close by and a great way to get an immense perspective on central Idaho mountain ranges.  Lunch on Galena Peak's summit. Looking north at Castle Peak (center horizon) and the White Cloud Peaks.
Trip Stats
Overview: This straight-up, steep hike from Senate Creek climbs through wildflower-filled meadows to a moderately narrow talus and rock-spire ridge with spectacular views of the Boulder, Sawtooth, Smoky and White Cloud mountain ranges near Ketchum, Idaho in mountain goat country. It climbs an average of 1,400 feet every mile. Begin near Galena Lodge on a snowshoe/ski trail, then turn off to ascend Galena's west ridge. Location: Sawtooth National Recreation Area - Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness - southwest Boulder Mountains near Ketchum, Idaho. Elevation/Prominence: 11,153'/733' Date hiked: 7/20/25 Distance/Elevation gain: 5.2 miles/3,500' out and back. Coordinates: Galena Peak = 43.88966 -114.60415. Our trailhead = (near Miner's Yurt) 43.87704 -114.63937 Maps/Apps: Topo Maps US (iphone app), AllTrails, USGS Galena and Galena Peak 7.5 minute topo maps, Lists of John topo map. Driving Directions: from Ketchum, Idaho: Travel 22.4 miles north from Saddle Road near Sun Valley on Highway 75 toward Stanley to Senate Creek Road (NF 182) on the right side, just before Galena Lodge. Take the right onto dirt road (passenger car ok if good road conditions, but prefer 4x4). At ~ 0.3 miles reach an intersection in a large meadow and take the right (#409), driving ~ 0.4 miles to a few camping spots and park near a sign "Wildlife Need Your Help". We had to park at Miners Yurt a little further down the road due to camping spots occupied. Geology: The Boulders have complicated metamorphosed Paleozoic and Cenozoic volcanic geology and make up part of the Idaho batholith. Galena (lead sulfide) was mined in this area. Galena is a major source of lead and silver. The mineral is used today in lead-acid batteries. History: This wilderness is named for famous author Ernest Hemingway, who lived in nearby Ketchum, and loved hunting and fishing in these beautiful mountains.
If you want to see astounding views from an Idaho summit, and you don't have all day, this relatively short, sweet and steep trail to Galena Peak is for you. It's uncomplicated as far as Idaho summit trails go with views of some of Idaho's major ranges: Castle Peak and the White Clouds to the north, the Sawtooth Wilderness to the west, and Ryan Peak, the Boulder's highest to the east. This describes the Senate Creek west ridge approach; another approach is Cherry Creek road, utilizing Galena's south flank. We did this out and back hike in 5 1/2 hours with ample time on top for lunch. I wouldn't call this an "easy" or even a "moderate" hike, though. It gains an average of 1,400' for every mile. We first hiked Galena 13 years ago, when I was attending Idaho State University's summer geology field camp in the Lost River Range, one of the most rigorous classes I've ever taken. With complicated geology spanning Proterozoic through Cenozoic times, the Boulder Mountains have a rich galena mining history. You can hike to old mining buildings in Boulder City near Ketchum.
Hike Summary 0 - 0.3 miles: We parked at Miner's Yurt, taking a right at the filled-up campground towards Miners Yurt. The preferred place to park would be at this camping site near the "Wildlife Need Your Help sign. We walked north toward the campsites (see gold star on Galena ski trail map below). There seemed like plenty of space to park multiple vehicles at this yurt, but not sure if it's against Galena Lodge rules. We walked the Spring Creek Ski and Bike trail near Miner's Yurt that intersects with Senate Creek and Road 409 near the campsites. At Senate Creek, we headed east toward Horsefly Hill trail and the west toe of Galena Peak. 0.3 miles - 0.6 miles (toe of west ridge): Hike east up closed road past the Senate Creek Smelter Site - there's some mining equipment - to a meadow with a large gray tree stump at intersection of Senate Creek and another creek on the right, where you find the trail leading up the west ridge. 0.6 miles - 2.6 miles: entire west ridge to summit. We saw mountain goat fur shed on the ridge. I looked for goats but didn't see any. Firm talus dominates the the last 1/2 mile of the ridge. I didn't find a peak register. There's an adjacent high point a short distance to the east: I hiked there to check out the elevation, but found it lower than Galena Peak. We were lucky on this July day to have fluffy clouds with no threat of thunderstorms, although we always make sure to summit before noon on exposed peaks. The clouds made for great lighting conditions for photography.  From the gold star on this Galena Lodge trail map, we hiked toward Horsefly Hill trail along Senate Creek, and found a trail up Galena's west ridge, out of a beautiful meadow. We were pretty darn proud of ourselves and enjoyed this hike immensely. At 64 years old, both Fred and I, we are still feeling pretty strong, although we may have been a bit slower this time around. For celebration, we stopped at Power House - Bikes, Burgers and Beers in Hailey (we went there almost every day on this vacation). It has a bike repair shop as well as very nice, expensive bikes inside the restaurant. But the best part is their large selection of draft beer and their hand-made batter-dipped corn dogs, the best seared ahi tacos, and burgers. It gets crowded by 6:00, so get there early! Although we also did some mountain-biking on this trip, Galena Peak was the highlight. We've hiked many peaks in Idaho, including Borah, the highest and Leatherman, the second-highest when we lived in Boise. I love our new place - St. George, Utah, but I sure miss the Idaho forests and summits in the summer! Keep on Exploring!
Head east onto this closed-off road up Senate Creek through beautiful meadows and trees until you find this old tree stump, a good landmark, to get off road and start climbing the west ridge of Galena Peak, just above the trunk in above photo. Galena's summit is seen from the meadow (right). Starting up Galena's west ridge where there is a faint trail (left). Looking back at meadow along Senate Creek (right). The trail becomes more defined the higher you climb (left). Getting higher on the ridge (right).  A look back down the ridge toward the Sawtooth Mountains to the west on the horizon and the Smokys on left. The trail is mighty steep!
Lupines and shed fur from a mountain goat. Look at the ridge we get to climb!  The last 3/4 mile or so to the summit. Massive Castle Peak, directly north, in the White Clouds takes up a good portion of the horizon (middle top). Google Earth image.  Many Idaho summits are more loose and have trickier Class 3 moves. Talus is firm and the Class 1-2 route straightforward on Galena. Summit is upper right. Well-traveled path!  From near Galena's summit looking southeast at Galena's Cherry Creek approach and the Boulder Mountains and the Big Wood River Valley and Highway 75 on the right. Smoky Mountains right horizon.  Looking northeast toward more Boulder Peaks. Glassford Peak is one of them. Hiking back down Galena's ridge.  We still got the legs and the lungs, so I guess we'll keep summiting great Idaho peaks!  Looking north to Castle Peak and the White Clouds.  Coming back from Galena's summit.   Looks like Rocky Ledge Penstemon - penstemon ellipticus Descending to tree line, buckwheat (eriogonum), snowshoe trail by winter, bike trails by summer, a really nice bike at Power House Bikes, Beers and Burgers restaurant in Hailey, Idaho.  Beautiful Idaho forest and meadow on the way down.   Cal Topo map and elevation profile.  Google Earth map showing main dirt road off of Hwy 75, right turn on road leading to campsites and Miners Yurt. West ridge gained at toe just left of Senate Creek, which descends on the left side of the ridge. Related Idaho Summits
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Zebra Slot, Devils Garden and Escalante Natural Bridge: A Weekend in Grand Staircase-Escalante7/15/2025 Directions and photography advice for timeworn sandstone monoliths and water-cut slot canyons in the remote wilderness areas accessed from Hole In the Rock Road.  Zebra Canyon in Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument Trip Stats
Overview: Devils Garden, Zebra and Tunnel slots are some of the first hikes off of Hole in the Rock Road when traveling south from the town of Escalante, Utah through remote canyons and wilderness areas. Pass by colorful sandstone formations, like Cruise Ship Crag on the way to Zebra Slot, and observe the hoodoos and natural arches at Devils Garden where sunset and sunrise are the best times to capture their dramatic color and forms. Location: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, south-central Utah. Coordinates:
Date Hiked: May 30, 2025 Fun Fact: "Hole in the Rock" was the name given to a narrow v-shaped crevice in the cliffs that the San Juan mission of Mormon pioneers encountered on their expedition in 1879, coming down from the town of Escalante. This was their only passage leading to the Colorado River, over 1,000 feet below them. They used picks and axes to carve out a larger opening in which they lowered 83 wagons. By locking the wagon wheels and placing blind folds on horses, they successfully reached the river, which is now Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Hole In the Rock Trail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Considerations: cross-country navigational skills (a topo map, GPS, and route-finding skills) are necessary if you want to hike the overland slickrock connection between Zebra and Tunnel slots. This trail was cairned or marked in only a few places. 
Our Zebra/Tunnel slot hike ~ 6.5 miles - (orange line), with trailhead on Hole In the Rock Road. The yellow = amount of sun exposure at 10:00 a.m., late June. In other words, at least 95% of this area does not have shade! We were very warm coming back on the hike in late May. Caltopo Maps. Photographer Mike Shedlock getting to work in Zebra slot. He uses focus stacking (taking multiple shots of the same scene focusing from near to far), especially in situations like this where the image requires a large depth of field to get everything into focus. MishMoments.com This was a great weekend spent with fun friends Mike and Liz. We rented a "tiny house" in Escalante, Utah with killer views, drinking wine on the deck by night and exploring slot canyons, natural bridges, hoodoos, and petroglyphs by day. We have adventured with Mike, A.K.A. Mish, on other gorgeous hikes: Golden Cathedral in Grand Staircase, and trips to Zion NP. Photographer Mish has helped me brush up on my photography skills - he's passionate about his art and knows when and where to capture the best images. The first morning, we were out the door by 6:30 a.m. to get to Zebra Slot Canyon for the perfect light. Zebra/Tunnel Slot Canyons Hike Summary - Two slots on one hike! The Zebra slot is short but dramatic with sinuous, striped walls that hold occasional protruding iron concretions. It's a 2.5 mile walk to its opening from the trailhead 7.8 miles down Hole In the Rock Road out of the town of Escalante, Utah. Its walls allow only enough space to squeeze one body through. In one spot, so narrow we had to a bit of chimneying and scoot up and across the left-hand wall. The trail to Zebra is pretty easy to follow and occasionally marked with rock cairns and ducks. When we reached Harris Wash, we walked a combination of the wash and the sand bar next to it. Cruise Ship Crag towers above you on the left after you pass a fence across a wash. When you get to wide Harris Wash in about two miles, Zebra is to the left, north of Harris Wash and Tunnel slot to the right continuing through Harris Wash. We entered Tunnel slot from the north after hiking overland across amazing slickrock, abundant moqui marbles and boulders. This overland route is accessed immediately to the southeast (left) at Zebra's opening as you face away from it. I used Topo Maps US app to navigate to Tunnel, following a faint foot trail.
Photography advice: the early morning light (8:00 a.m.) was perfect. Mid-morning is good, before the sun hits the walls. You need a fast ISO and a tripod is a must, however, only one tripod can fit at a time. Large depth of field and/or focus stacking is needed since the side walls are so close.
Is it a Bridge or an Arch? I also photographed Escalante Natural Bridge on this trip, along the clear Escalante River, as well as the petroglyphs near the Escalante River trailhead accessed 13 miles east of Escalante on Highway 12. A natural bridge is a type of natural arch. According to the website The Natural Arch and Bridge Society, there's no fundamental difference between a natural bridge and natural arch: "a natural bridge is just one of many types of natural arch. A natural bridge is a type of natural arch where a current of water, such as a stream, clearly was a major agent in the formation of the opening (hole)." When you see a natural arch, you can consider these five attributes used to classify them, and there's many classification schemes for natural arches. The observable attributes are (from The Natural Bridge and Arch Society):
I struggled to set up my tripod amid a vicious swarm of mosquitos, getting bit numerous times. I hiked up the steep, rocky slope directly under the bridge but they followed me, so I didn't get many images before I was driven out of there. Autumn would be a good time to photograph Escalante Natural Bridge because of the golden cottonwood trees in front of it. Keep on Exploring!!
  Zebra Slot
Zebra slot  Devils Garden  Above two images: Hoodoos in Devils Garden
Metate Arch (left) and Tunnel Slot Canyon. Oil paint filter applied to the arch image captured with my Sony mirrorless camera.  A "pavement" of moqui marbles, iron concretions that have weathered out of sandstone. Concretions form when minerals like iron oxide (hematite) that are carried through the porous sandstone by groundwater precipitate and form concentric layers around a sand grain.  Escalante Natural Bridge Captured with Sony alpha a7c mirrorless, full frame camera.  A bit too late to capture the setting in the middle of these hoodoos in Devils Garden.  Metate Arch at sunset.  Petroglyph panel near the 100 hands pictograph, accessed from Escalante River Trailhead, 13 miles east of Escalante on Highway 12. The line with the circle around it appearing to be attached to the arm of the left-most figure may be an atlatl or spear thrower, man's first efficient hunting weapon. The use of the atlatl continued until ~ 500 A.D. in the southwest. The circle depicted the hand grip. Source: Rock Art Symbols of the Greater Southwest by Alex Patterson.  Liz and Fred near petroglyph panel, east of Escalante, Utah.  Mike heading to Escalante Natural Bridge along the Escalante River.  Along the Escalante River.  Escalante Natural Bridge, an easy walk from the Escalante River Trailhead, on Highway 12. Related posts |
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About this blogExploration documentaries – "explorumentaries" list trip stats and highlights of each hike or bike ride, often with some interesting history or geology. Years ago, I wrote these for friends and family to let them know what my husband, Fred and I were up to on weekends, and also to showcase the incredible land of the west.
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