Sheep Creek Peak

Date: June 28, 2026

Location: Snake River Range, Idaho, USA

Team: Deanna Luu

Field Notes: Follow Sheep Creek Pack Trail until the basin below the northwest face. Climb scree slopes up to the col between the summit and Point 9808. From here, scramble the easy North Ridge to the summit.

Deanna approaching Sheep Creek Peak. The summit is at center image.

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Deanna and I were long overdue for a good hike together. I had just returned from a week-long surf trip in El Salvador and was feeling thoroughly worked. This would be a good outing to get the engine going again.

We followed the Sheep Creek Trail alongside a nonexistent Sheep Creek and instead found ourselves moving through a beautiful forest. The incline was extremely gradual, and the going was easy.

We saw only one other group—a husband and wife hunting bears. Other than that, it was quiet, aside from the cold gusts of wind moving through the upper peaks.

At higher elevations, the views were inspiring. I spend a lot of time looking through Thomas Turiano’s ski bible, especially the pages featuring the Palisades. It is a less-visited range with abundant snowfall and huge three- to four-thousand-foot ski runs. My eyes were drawn to the southern aspects of Sheep Mountain, and I was already dreaming about next winter.

Deanna hiking through forest on the way to Sheep Creek Peak

Below the northwest face of Sheep Creek Peak

Little Elk Peak, Mount Baird, and Elkhorn Peak from the North Ridge of Sheep Creek Peak

We arrived in the basin below the northwest face of Sheep Creek Peak and began climbing the scree toward the col between the summit and Point 9,808.

This was Deanna’s first time traveling on scree, and like it is for most people the first time, it sucked.

At one point, a few hundred feet below the summit, she considered stopping. But after a quick breather and a pep talk, she got back on her feet, and we slowly made our way to the top.

The views from the summit were incredible. It was a cold day, already getting late, and golden light filtered through broken clouds against a deep blue sky. It felt like autumn.

Deanna grinding up scree slopes to meet the north ridge of Sheep Creek Peak

Looking north from Sheep Creek Peak

Palisades Resevoir from Sheep Creek Peak

Mount Baird and Elkhorn Peak from Sheep Creek Peak

Deanna on the summit of Sheep Creek Peak

Deanna on the summit of Sheep Creek Peak

In every direction, the valleys, slopes, and summits of a pristine wilderness stretched out around us. I felt incredibly lucky to live here and to share the summit with my partner.

We couldn’t stay long because I was freezing, so we slowly made our way back down to the col, through the miserable scree, and eventually into the warmer temperatures of the valley.

Happy days...