Madison County, ID Highpoint– 7/13/2024
Trip Stats (Click here)
Summit Elevation: 8,108 ft.
Trip Distance: 5.31 miles,
Total Vert: 1,076 ft.
Travel Type: Trail Running
Nearly a decade ago, I made some outdoor/adventure goals that were interesting to me personally. Some would call it a bucket-list of sorts. One of the most ambitious goals I came up with was to climb tallest point in every state in the United States. I envisioned myself standing on top of big mountains, deep in Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado, and checking off multiple small points in a day on long Midwest roadtrips. Despite being within a few hour drive from the trailheads of 4 of the tallest mountains in the lower 48, this goal kind of got placed on the back burner. Graduate school, my career, high gas prices, difficulty finding friends/partners, and other reasons quickly stifled my progress toward my goal. Only 1 summit out of 50 has been climbed as of this writing. (Oh Borah, how I hate that mountain.)
So, to shake things up, in late 2023 into early 2024, I decided to create a mini, possibly more accomplishable, goal to attack in the mean time: climbing the tallest point in every county in Idaho. I realized that I could probably knock some of these out on random weekends and the occasional evening whenever I’m bored and don’t have much to do. It’s like a compact version of my previous dumb/ambitious plan but it still lights my fire and that’s what matters.
The goal kind of just rolled in my head from time to time for a few months until a dry, sunny, and slightly smoky Saturday in July, I had some plans fall through, and late in the day I was just mulling around the house feeling a little stir crazy and sorry for myself, and I thought, “why not start today?” So on a whim, that’s how I officially started the County Highpoint list and ended up on Red Butte. I looked at the map, slapped my trail running vest together and set off for the highest point in Madison County, ID. Why not start the list in the county that I, my father, and my grandfather were all born in.
If you’re interested, a list of Idaho County High Points can be found here thanks to the list-loving nerds like me over at Peak Bagger:
https://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=13206
At a little after 3 in the afternoon I was in my car cruising down the highway toward Ririe, ID, hoping for some success on a mountain I knew little about. On the northeast side of Ririe, there is a little hot spring, pizza joint and golf course called Heise Hot Springs. If you follow that road east it will lead you up to the Kelly Canyon Ski area. I have a love-hate relationship with this little mountain because it’s where I learned to ski, but haven’t been in years because it’s so ridiculously priced.
The road from Kelley Canyon toward Red Butte is pretty rough and long. If you venture that direction, know that there is a little over 13 miles of wash-boarded gravel road between you and the end of the line. These roads climb and descend more than expected. On any given summer day you will probably pass plenty of motorized traffic of all kinds and you might even see a USFS Ranger or two hiding from their boss, so keep your foot off the pedal of your rally car and pay attention. Just put some Zach Bryan on the radio and enjoy the road as it gets more and more secluded.
If you make it to the end of the bumpy road with some of the bolts on your vehicle intact you’ll find a secluded bathroom, ready to serve many a lost UTV rider. While the map shows that the road goes on for another mile or two, that isn’t the case. Once you’ve reached the woodland crapper in your Subaru or diesel of choice, it’s time to hoof it. (You might see some horse trailers, so literally hoofing it seems to be an option if you have access to an equine friend.) On some maps there is a trail/road that cuts straight east from somewhere near the parking lot. From what I can tell this road has been abandoned or never existed at all. I looked for it from both ends and couldn’t find it. Best to just add the extra mile or so to the trip and go the route of least resistance.
The actual trail (ATV trail) starts behind a forest service information sign and begins to wind through some of the thickest lodgepole pines that I have ever seen. It’s definitely quiet and spooky that far in when you’re alone and the all the sound is absorbed. Be careful to bring a map or GPS as there are a few intersections along the way that are not always well marked. Heading down the wrong ATV trail could easily have you scratching your head and struggling to find your way back out of the maze. Be sure to bring bear spray as well. While the area does have a relatively high amount of motorized traffic, this far into the forest you’re more likely to encounter a curious black bear than you probably would near Buckskin Morgan.
After a mile or two, the thick trees begin to break and you pass through a few meadows on your slow climb to the summit. The day I went, the weather was quite warm (80’s) but not awful and the wind was almost non-existent. The meadows break every now and again but you really don’t get to see much until the last 3/4 of a mile or so. At that point you begin to climb a ridge that guides you a few hundred feet upward toward your summit goal. The last little bit can get rather steep. Much like other trails in the area, on many of the steep sections dirt bike riders have helped to loosen as many rocks and roots as possible. Watch your step. When you think you’re about to summit, one more tiny saddle is all that’s left between you and the actual high point.
I would like to note here, were it not buried so deep down a gravel road, I’d vote Red Butte as probably one of the best “Bang-for-Your-Effort” summits in East Idaho. After a relatively short 2.5 mile jog and hill climb, you’ll reach a hilltop of richly colored red dirt with beautiful views of this section of the Targhee National Forest in all directions. Pink rocks and washed ridges adorn the hillsides nearby. Farther off to the southeast you can see Piney Peak, the tallest peak in Teton County, ID, and on a clear day, the Grand Teton to the Northeast poking her head through just a bit. This summit feels pretty large and in charge for not very much physical work at all.
I called my dad who happened to be in Canada from the summit and told him where I was. Then ate bit of summit candy and watched some ravens floating around below me before I decided it was probably time to cruise back to my car. Occasionally on the summit I could hear an ATV off in the distance, but for the most part I felt a sense of being peacefully secluded and alone.
The down climb from the summit was probably the worst part of the whole day which really wasn’t that bad at all. The loose rock and gravel put my trail running shoe treads to the test but once I was back in the woods it was a smooth jog from there on out. On the way back I fully realized how confusing the trails in this area could be. Some of the turns had three or four intersecting trails branching from the same point, none of which looked like the trails I came in on, but, with a little help from directional know how, and a double check of the GPS I was barely even slowed down.
Once safely back at my car I headed out and sipped some water feeling accomplished for a late start on a lazy Saturday. Some candy and a long gravel drive was all that was left to do.
Honestly, it felt really good to be headed toward a goal once again. Often times I think we grow older and forget to set goals that light our fire. We set goals that take us toward a career, a family, or success, but I we often forget that we can set goals for play. Goals in the mountains (even small goals that have me climbing a ruddy red hill on a warm Saturday afternoon) have always been something I have enjoyed. Having something on my tick list gives me something to look forward to.
Our goals don’t always have to put us in competition or make us stretch in extreme fully painful ways. I fully believe that even if it isn’t as grand as climbing Denali or challenging as swimming the English Channel, having something small that gets you up and keeps you out there living is what we need as humans. So, my challenge to you is to start your own adventure. Pick something that makes you smile no matter how small, set the goal, and drive down the bumpy road toward it. And maybe… just maybe I’ll bump into you with your torch lit on some high point somewhere down the road.
“You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.”
-C.S. Lewis
The Mountain Muir 
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