Jackson Peak: 8,124' - Boise National Forest, Idaho

A lightly-traveled serene single-track hike through lush green forest and wildflowers to a fire lookout near Lowman, Idaho. Views extend all the way to the northern Sawtooth Peaks.

Related: 
Mt. Heinen - Grand Slam Peaks Completed!
Alpine Peak: 9,861' - Sawtooth Wilderness - Never Stop Climbing Mountains
​Reward Peak: 10,074' via Upper Redfish Lakes - Sawtooth Wilderness
​Bald Mountain via Station Creek - Garden Valley, Idaho

Deacon, Greg, Fred and Kaleb on Jackson Peak's summit - 8,124'.  
Sawtooth Peaks on the horizon.

Trip Stats
Location:  Boise National Forest - Lowman, Idaho
Distance and Elevation gain:  4.7 miles one way, 9.4 miles round-trip.  Trailhead = 4,650', summit = 8,124' for a gain of 3,474'.
Summit:  44.07806° N   115.41306°W.  Trailhead:  44.1092,  115.4140
Trail:  Jackson Peak Trail #151;  lightly used  out and back.
Difficulty:  Moderate Class 1 with a few short steep sections.
Maps:  USDA Forest Service:  Boise National Forest,  Interactive Map USDA Forest Service,  PDF Jacskson Peak Trail, Topozone Jackson Peak,  our tracks (below).
Date hiked:  6/27/20
Considerations:  No water, exposed ridge (lightning), no permit, fire lookout staffed during summer months.
Geology:  Challis intrusive rocks (Eocene).  Shallow roots of Challis volcanic field. Older suite of granodiorite and quartz monzodiorite and subordinate diorite, granite, and subvolcanic dacite; includes Jackson Peak, Beaver Creek, Marsh Creek, and Summit Creek stocks (49-45 Ma).  (From Idaho Geological Survey and Digital Geology of Idaho).

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Jackson Peak
Hiking and Driving Directions
Waypoints

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 Descending Jackson Peak

Our Hike
Fred and I jumped on the opportunity to hike with Greg and his two boys, Deacon and Kaleb to Jackson Peak Fire Lookout in northern Boise National Forest on a perfect-weather wildflower-filled June day, a great time to explore rugged central Idaho.  We had all hiked Mt. Heinen near Arrowrock Reservoir, one of the four "Grand Slam Peaks" near Boise.  They are now training for Mt. Borah, Idaho's highest, and Hyndman Peak, the highest in the Pioneer Mountains.  Kaleb and Deacon are impressive; not many kids their age are up to such challenging hikes.  Their positive attitude and motivation was a joy.

The nearly 3,500' elevation gain is not as tough as the same gain on Mt. Heinen because it is a steady climb with not much elevation loss on the way up.  We have hiked this peak many times the past 20 years in several conditions:  thunderstorms, through snowfields and in hot temps.   We have talked to the tenants of the fire lookouts over the years and been able to stand on its top floor to see a 360-degree view of the Boise National Forest and as far away as the Sawtooth Mountains.  This year we were prohibited from getting on the fire lookout building due to coronavirus restrictions. 

​My low-clearance passenger car made it up the mile-long dirt road to the trailhead from the Lowman Ponds parking area.  In some years, the road is rutted and a high-clearance vehicle is needed.  Great to hop into your vehicle at the trailhead at hike's end rather than walk that extra mile to the parking area at Lowman Ponds!

Jackson Peak Trailhead, one mile up Forest Road #530 from Lowman Ponds.

Jackson Peak Trail - Boise National Forest for more specific hike directions.

Jackson Peak Trail is well-marked and maintained.  The first 1/2 mile treks through Oregon coast-like lushness with fern-lined tributaries leading to Richard's Creek noisily flowing below.  After 0.75 miles, the trail swings southeast away and above this creek and switch-backs to the ridge through remnants of the 1988 Willis Gulch Fire, continuing up and around Richards Creek watershed source just below Jackson Peak.  At the intersection with Forest Road #598, the locked gate to Jackson Peak lookout straddles this watershed to the north and Jackson Creek and the expansive lands of the Boise National Forest to the south.

Boise National Forest Large Fire History Map, 1980-2018.

First mile of hike near Richards Creek

​The five of us climbed steadily through lush yellow balsamroot, chokecherry and lupine brushing against our shins.  Deacon's and Kaleb's stories and hiking aspirations make time pass quickly.  They tell us about their conquest of Mt. St. Helens - a hard hike that requires permits.  We reach a flat spot with a great view of the Sawtooth Mountains before the final climb, a couple of us tallying the number of ticks appearing on legs and arms.  I remember Fred getting ticks at this same spot many years ago!  We remind the boys that Lyme disease from ticks is extremely rare in Idaho.  According to the Idaho Statesman (2018), tick-borne diseases in Idaho remain very low.  

Greg and Kaleb on Jackson Peak's switchbacks

Deacon on ridge

​The final gain to the intersection with Forest Road #598 and the gate that closes motorized access to Jackson Peak Lookout (4.3 miles from trailhead) is on a ridge through the peaceful verdant forest filled with firs and pines.  Right before the intersection, the trail traverses a fairly steep mountainside overlooking a 650' drop to Richards Creek watershed.  In the early spring, when snow made this portion look too risky, we have hiked behind this prominence to the intersection.

Jackson Peak (left)

After switchbacks, trail goes through Willis Gulch Fire (1988) - burned trees on ridge leading to the summit.
Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)

Dark Green Fritillary on Grey Rabbitbrush bloom

These guys are awesome!

Just before intersection with Forest Road #598 overlooking Richards Creek watershed - late summer.

From the gate, walk up the final 0.35 mile to the lookout, and lots of communication towers and a helipad.  Although this detracts from a wilderness experience, it's a great reward to stand above everything else for miles.  The unmistakable jagged northern Sawtooth peaks cut the horizon to the northeast, and the immense land of the Boise National Forest spanning 2.5 million acres of mountains, valleys and access roads spreads to the south.

We all sat at the picnic table near the lookout, celebrating our hike, thankful for the trail camaraderie and the peace of central Idaho.  Hearing Deacon's and Kaleb's dreams of summiting higher peaks reminded Fred and I of our previous summit goals.  Wistfully, I tell them that they have plenty of years ahead of them with so many mountains in the American west to climb.  So many mountains to climb, wilderness to experience, trails to walk, but not as much time for Fred and I. 

​The recurring topic discussed during the descent was what flavor ice cream we would have at the Sourdough Lodge in Lowman afterwards to celebrate our summit success.

Love Idaho.  Never stop climbing mountains.

"I think probably one of the important things that happened to me was growing up in Idaho in the mountains, in the woods, and having a very strong presence of the wilderness around me. That never felt like emptiness. It always felt like presence."
         -  Marilynne Robinson, novelist - winner of 2005 Pulitzer prize for novel Gilead

360-degree view on Jackson Peak summit - complete with barking dog in top floor of lookout.

Summit view northeast to Sawtooth Mountains

Sue at Jackson Peak Lookout, Boise National Forest
​Late summer when rabbitbrush bloom

History of Jackson Peak Fire Lookout
A two-story, glass-walled log structure was erected in 1927 according to the Idaho Statesman newspaper.  It was anchored by half-inch steel cables at each corner due to continuous high-speed winds.  In 1981, a two-story flat roof house was installed.  The 1988 Willis Gulch Fire threatened the lookout.  In 1990, a new modified hip roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls was installed (From ronkemnow.weebly.com).

A strong relationship between the National Forest and the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Organization was established in 1925.  It was then that Idaho state forestry law provided for a State Forestry Board that would enforce fire regulations.  For a thorough history of fire management in Boise National Forest, check out History of the Boise National Forest 1905 - 1976 by Elizabeth M. Smith, p. 111.

Rex's Fire Lookout Page
USDA Forest Service information on staffed and unstaffed fire lookouts

Kaleb on summit of Jackson Peak, 8,124'

Our GPS tracks 
​click on map for larger interactive map of region

References
Boise National Forest - Home - USDA Forest Service - retrieved from the internet

Boise National Forest Large Fire History - 1980 - 2018.

Forest Lookouts.  ronkemnow.weebly.com

Idaho Geological Survey - Interactive Map - retrieved from internet

Idaho Statesman.  May 29, 2018.  Across the U.S., reports of tick-borne illness are rising.  Here's what's happening in Idaho.

Smith, Elizabeth M.  History of the Boise National Forest, 1905 - 1976.  Idaho State Historical Society - Boise, 1983.