Climbing Mt. Borah via Chicken-Out Ridge: The Tallest Peak in Idaho
Distance: 8.2 miles / 13.2 km
Elevation Gain: 5,300 ft. / 1,615 m
For most people, talking about the Mt. Borah Trail is all about Chicken-Out Ridge.
This is because most hikers generally have no difficulty with the first 3.5 miles (5.6 km), outside of the steep elevation gain, to the base of Chicken-Out Ridge, but the short 0.4 mile (0.6 km) section that immediately follows is what prevents many from reaching the top of Idaho.
That being said, it can be a challenge to compare what difficulty looks like between hikers, as it largely depends on your comfortability with exposure, but read through the next section if you have any doubts.
How Hard is Chicken-Out Ridge?
If you asked me this question, I would say that Chicken-Out Ridge is a walk in the park.
Now, I’m saying that because all of my exposure experience comes from Hawaiʻi, where the rock is softer, wetter, more crumbly, and many times you are trusting your life to the plants available on these hairline ridges. Therefore, learning to hike/ climb basalt has made granite seem like a playground to me.
In any case, if you don’t have experience with exposure, then Chicken-Out Ridge should not be taken lightly, as a fall from either side of the ridge would likely be fatal.
That being said, Chicken-Out Ridge is one of the easier Class 3/ 4 climbs I’ve seen across the Mountain West, and I say this because there is no shortage of places to figure out your next move. It’s not as if there is only one narrow route you have to scoot across.
Therefore, if you know yourself to be comfortable with scrambling/ scooting down sections on your butt while exposed to big drops, then you will be fine. If you are the type of person that gets worked up while scrambling next to a big drop, then perhaps Chicken-Out Ridge isn’t for you.
How does Mt. Borah’s Chicken-Out Ridge Compare to the Knife Edge on Capitol Peak?
It doesn’t. The knife’s edge on Capitol Peak is, by far, more technical than Chicken-Out Ridge, as it’s more of a true saddle where you may want to sit and scoot across the most exposed sections.
As previously mentioned, Chicken-Out Ridge has many more possible routes; whereas on Capitol Peak, there is truly only one.
Read My Separate Post: Capitol Peak Trail
Mt. Borah Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mt. Borah Trail is located at the very end of Birch Springs Road in Mackay, Idaho.
While I’m sure it depends on the weather, as well as how early in the season you visit, the dirt road leading to the trailhead should be able to handle vehicles of all sizes, granted that the road is snow-free.
Google Maps Directions: Mt. Borah Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Lost River Range
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Lost River Range.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Climbing the Mt. Borah Trail
The Mt. Borah Trail begins in the Sagebrush before ascending into a beautiful Bristlecone Pine within the first 0.25 miles (0.4 km).
At about 1.1 miles (1.8 km), the Mt. Borah Trail makes a hard right turn for the ridge that continues up the peak. Note that this turn can be easy to miss on the return hike, so be sure to make a mental note.
Then, at roughly the 10,000 ft. (3,048 m) mark, the trail crosses above the tree line, which is why I recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt, like the ones below.
Chicken-Out Ridge
At about 11,300 ft. (3,444 m), you will start to get a clear picture of the scrambling on Chicken-Out Ridge.
That being said, we stayed on the ridgeline more when hiking up to the peak, but on the hike back, we contoured the ridge to the west. Personally, I believe that whichever way you choose will be similar in terms of difficulty.
The end of the short 0.4-mile (0.6 km) Chicken-Out Ridge is this small scramble section, shown in the photo below.
In our experience, there was a rope there, but it’s not really necessary.
Then, the final approach will be very flat, as you approach the summit ridge.
Mt. Borah Summit Ridge
As you head up the summit ridge, you might notice a few different trails all leading in the same direction, but in my experience, they all lead to the same place.
Mt. Borah
According to the National Forest Service, the summit of Mt. Borah is 12,662 ft. (3,859 m), and from the top, you can get great 360° views of the Lost River Range.
However, you unfortunately cannot see the Borah Glacier, Idaho’s only glacier, from the summit, which is just off the peak on the north side.
Mt. Borah
Warning
Afternoon thunderstorms in high Mountain West areas, such as this, are a serious concern during the summer monsoon season.
Even if the weather forecast doesn’t predict any storms, I can tell you from personal experience that they may show up out of nowhere and can put you and your entire group in a very dangerous situation.
I say this to emphasize the importance of turning around at the first sign of lightning, thunder, or even heavy cloud buildup. However, if you ever get caught in a storm unsuspectingly, follow the steps linked below to reduce the risk of getting struck.
U.S. Forest Service: Lightning Safety Tips
Hiking Down Mt. Borah
Like us, you may think you found a better route down Chicken-Out Ridge, but after doing it two different ways, I don’t think that one way was any better or worse than the other.
On different note, I thought that the steep elevation on the Mt. Borah Trail was much more noticeable on the way down than up. For this reason, you may want to bring trekking poles for the descent, as Mt. Borah truly is one of the steepest trails outside of a scramble.
Additional Early Season Gear
Depending on the winter snowpack, micro-spikes may be necessary, especially when the trail reaches some of the more exposed sections above tree line.
This is because upper elevation trails, like the Mt. Borah Trail, can be covered in snow for much longer than lower areas across Idaho, making these sections extremely dangerous when they are snowy and icy.
I personally use the Yaktrax below.
More Mountain West Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Mountain West adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Mountain Ranges across Idaho are home to Black Bears, Mountain Lions, and as of recent years, Grizzly Bears.
Therefore, it’s important to hike with bear spray and know how to react in the event of a Black or Grizzly Bear encounter, as their ranges only seem to be expanding across states like Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Aside from wildlife, Idaho, like any Mountain West state, is known for its violent afternoon thunderstorms, which are more typical in the warmer summer months than other times of the year.
That said, it’s important to check the local forecast before setting off on any adventure, as lightning strikes are not uncommon in and near mountain ranges across the West. I have personally been knocked to the ground by a strike that hit near me in the past, and I confidently say that it’s an experience you don’t want to live through. This is why I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast for any high-elevation adventures you may be interested in—especially when climbing a summit.
Finally, know that micro-spikes may be necessary for an early or late season adventure, but micro-spikes are never supposed to be a substitute for conditions that require crampons.
Disclaimer
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