Leatherman Peak Hiking Guide

Northeast Gully

Leatherman Peak (Northeast Gully) Trailhead, Parking & Camping

From Mackay, head northwest on US-93 N for 21.9 miles. Before the Mount Borah Historical Marker, turn right onto Doublespring Pass Road. Continue on this road for 10.5 miles. Make a sharp right turn onto NF-117, which you will stay on for the next six miles as you move southeast. Continue on this dirt road until it merges onto NF-118/Upper Pahsimeroi Road heading south, which you will stay on until the trailhead.

About one mile after the merge, high clearance and AWD/4WD become necessary for the remainder of the drive due to the presence of constant boulders and ruts in the road. At 4.6 miles into NF-118, you will pass by the historic Zollinger Range Cabin, and just beyond that, an unlocked gate. Shortly after the gate, you will come to a junction with a sign pointing left toward East Fork Upper Pahsimeroi and right toward West Fork Upper Pahsimeroi. Turn right toward the West Fork. The trailhead is at the end of the road, three miles from this turnoff.

Northeast Gully Route Overview

The eastern approach of Idaho’s 2nd tallest mountain takes hikers deep into the stunning and seldom visited Pahsimeroi Valley. This eastern route, now considered the standard route, is challenging to reach in a vehicle compared to the western approach, but it provides a safer route up the mountain through a panoramic setting. The trail is well-defined until the gully. Be prepared for light scrambling just below the summit.

Northeast Gully Trailhead to Start of Scree

The trail begins at the southern end of the parking area. Almost immediately, the trail crosses over the creek twice. Shortly after the second crossing, you arrive at a junction with two signs on a tree pointing toward Pass Lake or Merriam Lake. Take the trail heading for Pass Lake. Not far from here, you will come across one last sign, a larger one that reads, “Leatherman Pass Trail” in large font. Again continue on the trail toward Leatherman Pass.

The first section of this hike sees you gradually climbing alongside the West Fork Pahsimeroi River on an obvious trail, gaining only 1,000 feet in two miles. You will cross over the river a few times on bridges and rocks as you head toward the high meadows. At 9,000 feet, you will enter the high meadows, where you will get your first look at Leatherman Peak and Leatherman Pass. As you continue through the meadows, keep an eye out for the disappearance of the pine trees about a half mile down the trail. When the trees disappear, that signifies the time to turn left (southeast) off the trail and head for the scree-filled gully up toward Leatherman Peak. More specifically, a lone pine tree on the left side of the trail about 2.5 miles into the hike marks the moment to leave the path. It is important to leave the trail here, as staying on the trail would take you to Pass Lake instead of Leatherman Peak’s summit. 

Scree to Summit

As you approach the gully, look for disturbed rock signifying the route. There may be a few interweaving paths during this early stage in the climb, but they should all join together as the track progresses. Make your way up the steep scree alongside a rock wall, which should be on your right for the climb until you plateau in the bowl at 10,700 feet. The bowl is about 1,400 feet above and .8 miles away from the valley.

Once in the bowl, move south toward the talus slopes. From the bowl to the top of the ridge, you will gain about 1,000 feet in .4 miles. As you approach the steep talus slope, you will notice two trails climbing toward the ridge. Climb the trail on the right for about 1,000 feet until you crest the ridge (11,790ft). These last 450 vertical feet follow the ridge up to the summit, where you will encounter one mild Class 3 scramble. Once above the scramble, the summit is near. At the summit, you will have excellent views of White Cap Peak to the west, Mount Idaho and Borah Peak to the north, Peak 11,909 and Mount Corruption to the northeast, and Bad Rock Peak and Mount Church to the southeast.

West Ridge

Leatherman Peak (West Ridge) Trailhead, Parking & Camping

From Mackay, head northwest on US-93 N for 12.7 miles. Make a right (northeast) turn onto Sawmill Gulch Road, which is marked with a wooden sign. Stay on this rough road for 2.5 miles until you reach the end. The road can be very steep at the top, so AWD or 4WD is required.

West Ridge Route Overview

Once considered the standard route up the mountain, Leatherman’s western approach is not for the novice hiker. Rotten talus chutes and treacherous cliffs make this route more difficult to navigate and better suited for experienced climbers. Those who choose it will still find a unique approach and a rewarding view from Leatherman Pass.

Trailhead to Leatherman Pass

From the trailhead, follow the lightly used trail northeast through the pine forest. The route gains about 2,000 feet over the 2.25 miles to Leatherman Pass.. About half a mile in, the narrow canyon walls widen as you enter the start of the basin. Continue through the basin for another half mile until you reach the end of the tree line below a rock field. Climb up the field, where you will find your first proper view of Leatherman Peak, though Leatherman Pass will remain out of sight, blocked behind a scree field. 

From here, continue northeast toward the peak through a scattered forest, where you will connect with the ridge that runs above Lone Cedar Creek. The Pass will come into view as you make your way north up the ridge, where the trail transitions into a slanted scree field before gaining the Pass.

Leatherman Pass to Summit

Once on Leatherman Pass (10,500ft), located between White Cap Peak and Leatherman Peak, you will have an excellent view of the West Fork of Pahsimeroi Valley. (If you choose to use the modified west approach up the Northeast Gully, this would be the time to descend down the other side of the Pass.) Take a break and prepare for the upcoming climb, which sees you gaining over 1,700 feet in one mile to reach the summit.

From the Pass, head east up the loose scree trail toward Leatherman Peak until the trail fades away at the start of the scramble. The Leatherman West Ridge is an extended Class 3 scramble where route-finding skills are essential. You will want to stay on the West Ridge as much as possible as you climb up this rotten rock, using chutes and ledges to avoid Class 5 obstacles when necessary. If you are good at route finding, much of this climb is Class 3, though there are a couple of sections where Class 4 is difficult to avoid. Climb slowly and methodically during these sections. When you come to unclimbable rock faces, generally, you will move around them to the left (north) before reconnecting to the ridge. Be very careful of rockfall on this route. If climbing with others, coordinate movements to prevent rockfall exposure.

At the summit, you will have excellent views of White Cap Peak to the west, Mount Idaho and Borah Peak to the north, Peak 11,909 and Mount Corruption to the northeast, and Bad Rock Peak and Mount Church to the southeast. For the descent, you can either carefully retrace your steps down the West Ridge or, if you are okay with adding another two and a half miles to your route, take the Northeast Gully route down to the Pahsimeroi Valley and backup to Leatherman Pass for a safer descent.

How Hard is Leatherman Peak?

Leatherman Peak is a serious climb no matter which route is chosen. The standard Northeast Gully route is rated Class 3 and is the safer and more straightforward option for most hikers. The West Ridge is shorter in mileage, but looser, more technical, and better suited for experienced climbers. In both cases, this is a mountain for strong hikers who are comfortable with steep terrain, light scrambling, and route-finding.

Best Time to Hike

Leatherman Peak is generally best climbed in summer and early fall when the gullies and ridges are free of lingering snow. Earlier in the season, snow can add significant difficulty and increase objective hazards on both routes.

Should You Hike Leatherman Peak?

If you want Idaho’s second-highest mountain and are comfortable with steep, rugged terrain, Leatherman Peak is a rewarding objective. Most hikers should choose the Northeast Gully, while the West Ridge is better left to those with stronger scrambling skills and a higher tolerance for loose rock and exposure.