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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, hunting and fishing in these beautiful mountains. 360° views near Galena Peak's summit. 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 further down the road and 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
2 Comments
8/19/2025 08:47:14 am
Glad you got to do this magnificent hike here in my own backyard. Your images do the landscape justice. Leave a Reply. |
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Sue and Fred
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.
Happy Autumn!
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