Class 3 5.8 miles 4200 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Aug 22, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Diamond Peak GPX Track

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Diamond Peak is an ultra-prominent mountain in central Idaho, often overlooked due to its proximity with Borah Peak. While a bit less pretty, Diamond Peak has much more fun scrambling. To reach the trailhead, leave pavement here (44.16894, -112.92177) and then turn right here (44.14478, -112.98409) after passing through a gate. The road is in pretty good shape until the gate, and then aside from a few rough patches, it continues to be quite good. These rough spots may stop some drivers, but any Crossover vehicle with decent tires should be able to make it to where I parked. Past here 4WD is required to get up the next super steep hill, but the road ends shortly after anyway. With a burly vehicle you could cut off about an additional 500 feet of vertical gain.

Once the 4WD road ends, a trail continues up the slope though sparsely-vegetated forest and up to the ridgeline, leaving the trees and meadows behind. Here it becomes much more steep and you can see the wonders of what human erosion can do without proper switchbacks. I clawed my way up a particularly steep portion that's now become hardpan dirt. Past here the trail continued on far better terrain, introducing some light Class 2 as Diamond Peak inched closer. I could see the extended scramble ahead and got a bit excited.

Soon I made it to the start of the scramble, beginning with Class 2. The first Class 3 move happened earlier than I thought it would. I recommend keeping to the ridge crest whenever possible. There are lots of trails that lead away, but I cold see how you could pretty easily get thrown off route and be in potentially loose/dangerous territory. I don't think I was ever more than 50 feet from the crest on any obstacle. More Class 2 led to a notch, where a fun Class 3 section continued along the crest. You can likely avoid this on the right, but it would require dropping a bit. Lots more Class 2/2+ continued past this section, and I made my way up, having far more fun than I thought I might. Maybe I've been hiking too many lumps and not enough scrambly stuff lately.

An obvious trail led along the crest for a while, more Class 2/2+ fun along the way. Another Class 3 section might be avoidable, but I recommend keeping to the ridge crest. At some point, a wide ledge leads to the right to avoid a cliff, this being the only spot I felt I needed to be well off the crest. Past the ledge, more Class 2/2+ led along the ridge and then the terrain eased up significantly, ultimately leading to a nice trail for the last bit to the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Diamond Peak
12197 ft
5377 rise

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Steep road ahead. I decided to go on foot. Diamond Peak top right.
Steep road ahead. I decided to go on foot. Diamond Peak top right.
The 4WD road ends and the route continues on a trail. This trail leads to the gray ridge seen center.
The 4WD road ends and the route continues on a trail. This trail leads to the gray ridge seen center.
View back toward the trail as it leads up the slope.
View back toward the trail as it leads up the slope.
A pleasant trail, which sort of tricked me into thinking the ascent would be nicer than anticipted.
A pleasant trail, which sort of tricked me into thinking the ascent would be nicer than anticipted.
The trail reached the ridgeline.
The trail reached the ridgeline.
After reaching the ridge, this is just a close-up of some cool features to the south (different lighting since I took this on the way back).
After reaching the ridge, this is just a close-up of some cool features to the south (different lighting since I took this on the way back).
And then a very steep, eroded slope continued from the tundra and into the rocky nonsense.
And then a very steep, eroded slope continued from the tundra and into the rocky nonsense.
View back down the steep, loose, eroded trail.
View back down the steep, loose, eroded trail.
Above the eroded section, the terrain becomes nicer. Diamond Peak seen top left.
Above the eroded section, the terrain becomes nicer. Diamond Peak seen top left.
A view to the south at some cool rocky features.
A view to the south at some cool rocky features.
View back along the ridgeline. My car is on the left/center somewhere.
View back along the ridgeline. My car is on the left/center somewhere.
Approaching the start of the scramble, initially only Class 2.
Approaching the start of the scramble, initially only Class 2.
A short Class 3 move. I recommend sticking to the crest at all times when possible.
A short Class 3 move. I recommend sticking to the crest at all times when possible.
View back at the beginning of the scramble.
View back at the beginning of the scramble.
A small notch with another Class 3 potion on the other side.
A small notch with another Class 3 potion on the other side.
Base of an extended Class 3 section.
Base of an extended Class 3 section.
view down the Class 3 section from the notch.
view down the Class 3 section from the notch.
Onward, more Class 2.
Onward, more Class 2.
View back at my progress.
View back at my progress.
An obvious trail section. After going over the small bump ahead, I encountered another Class 3 section.
An obvious trail section. After going over the small bump ahead, I encountered another Class 3 section.
Class 3 section. It was perfectly reasonable, but possibly avoidable on the right, though it looked loose over there.
Class 3 section. It was perfectly reasonable, but possibly avoidable on the right, though it looked loose over there.
View back down the Class 3 section.
View back down the Class 3 section.
A ledge leads around a rock outcropping, the only time I felt I needed to leave the ridge crest. It wraps around on the left and ascends on Class 2/2+.
A ledge leads around a rock outcropping, the only time I felt I needed to leave the ridge crest. It wraps around on the left and ascends on Class 2/2+.
Past the ledge wrap, Diamond Peak ahead (the orange thing popping out on the left).
Past the ledge wrap, Diamond Peak ahead (the orange thing popping out on the left).
Class 2+.
Class 2+.
View back along the ridge.
View back along the ridge.
Class 2 led to the summit from here.
Class 2 led to the summit from here.
View back again along the ridge.
View back again along the ridge.
The last quarter mile really eases up.
The last quarter mile really eases up.
Diamond Peak ahead.
Diamond Peak ahead.
View north, just below the summit.
View north, just below the summit.
Close-up north.
Close-up north.
View south.
View south.
View back along the ridge, east.
View back along the ridge, east.

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