Jerome County High Point Trip Report
Date: April 20, 2002
Author: Dan Robbins
I used different directions for this trip than those of Ken Jones and others. These directions will be beneficial
for anyone attempting the county from the south.
We chose a sunny, but crisp spring day for a trip to the highpoint of Jerome county. From Twin Falls,
we headed east down Interstate 84. We got off on exit 201 and briefly headed north under the Interstate,
then got onto ID-25 heading east towards Paul. After driving about 3 miles we turned left (north) onto 1150
West Road (the turn occurs just as the road goes from a northeasterly direction to a due east direction).
We followed this paved, then good gravel road for 10 miles through farming ground until it reached a 90 degree
turn (just as the road reaches the desert, Kimama Butte was just in front of us). We continued going straight
on a 4 wheel drive road that goes under power lines straight north to the top of Kimama Butte (this road is
shown as a jeep road on the quad). From the top of Kimama (pronounced key-my-ma by locals), follow the
developed gravel road north for about 3/4 of a mile, then turn left (west) onto the first dirt road you
encounter (the one that goes under the transmission lines). This is where my directions merge with those of
Ken Jones and I start my detailed mileage.
Pass a fork going left at 0.3 mile. At 0.9 mile, two roads head left (south). Take the second (western) one.
Keep in mind that the two roads are only separated by 50 feet or so. From here the road becomes better
again (the road under the power lines is rocky). At a crossroads at 1.3 miles, go right. At 1.9 miles,
just past a fence, follow the road left at a T. At 2.1 miles go right and follow the main road as it heads west
toward a saddle at 3 miles. Park at the saddle.
From the saddle, head for point 4811, using the east ridge. About 3/4 of the way up, look for a cairn built
out of lava rock. My GPS had the elevation at 4,766 at this cairn. I set a way point and when entered into
my topo map program at home that evening, it was right on the 4,760 ft contour and Jerome county line.
Ken's placement was perfect.
From the cairn, we went to the top, which has some decent views. On top, my dad noticed hundreds of
obsidian chippings on the ground. An intense search yielded several nearly complete arrowheads.
The thought that a few hundred years ago an Indian family might have sat atop this modest lookout and chiseled
these hunting devices, while their little ones gleefully ran around the summit much like my own, was very moving.
How things have changed since then.
To the north of point 4811 lies a shallow lake in the center of what appears to be a crater. Perhaps this lake
was the bait that got the wildlife in the area and brought the Indians with them, which may explain the
reason so much of their weaponry is strewn about. We explored this area, again spotting arrowheads and chippings.
Keep in mind that taking any artifacts from public land is a federal crime, so look but don't pack
off anything you find in the area.