Lewis and Clark County Highpoint Trip Report

Red Mountain (9,411 feet)

Date: July 19, 2008
Author: Tim Worth

This is a significant summit, as its not only a CoHP but also the HP of the huge Bob Marshall/Great Bear/Scapegoat Wilderness complex. It ranks #21 on the MT prominence list.

Exiting reports mention a long trail hike from the east, around 18 miles round trip. Caffrey's out of print Climbers Guide to Montana notes that it is more efficient to approach from logging roads to the south.

From MT 200, I drove Copper Creek Road(FR 330) past the Copper Creek Campground to a point where the road cuts sharply northeast and crosses Copper Creek. This section passes through a severe burn area, from 2003 I believe. USGS map shows the road ending just beyond the creek but it continues onto a ridge to an intersection with FR 330B. Took FR 330B (right fork) for about a mile as it paralleled the north fork of Copper Creek. Stopped at ~6700 feet where the drivable portion of the road ends at the creek. Camped.

Next morning, crossed creek and followed increasingly faint road until it dead-ended at old mine and adit. Bushwhacked steeply up to spot elevation 8245, then easy walk along south-southeast ridge to summit. Found benchmark, cairn, footings for old lookout tower.

Returned the way I came. Carried bear spray but saw no sign of the Griz. A local told me bears aren't often seen in the area south of Red Mountain due to that 2003 burn.

Climb statistics: 4 hours, 7 miles, and 2,800 feet of elevation gain.