Mount Church / Donaldson Peak Hiking Guide

Mount Church / Donaldson Peak Trailhead, Parking & Camping

From Mackay, head northwest on US-93N for 10.6 miles. Turn right (northeast) onto Lone Cedar Creek Road, which is marked with a wooden sign. Continue on this road for 1.5 miles until you reach a junction near a ranch. Turn right (south) at the junction and follow the dirt road for 1.6 miles until it reaches the trailhead.

North Fork of Jones Creek Route Overview

The hike begins in the North Fork of Jones Creek, where a moderately defined trail follows a rocky creek bed before climbing toward the upper basin. Higher up, the route enters a scenic cirque with the Upper and Lower Ponds, which can at times resemble small glacial lakes. From there, the climb steepens toward Donaldson Peak before continuing along the connecting ridge to Mount Church. The ridge section is the defining feature of the route and keeps hikers at high elevation for an extended period of time.

Trailhead to Upper Pond

From the trailhead, take the small dirt path on the north end of the parking area. This early section of the climb follows the North Fork of Jones Creek as it gains almost 2,400 feet in just over two miles. Shortly into the hike, you will leave the fields and enter the cliffed walls of the creek, where you will pass above an old collapsed cabin. The trail stays high above the creek on the right (east) side before descending into the creek proper. Stay with the trail as it moves up the drainage through rocks, roots, and shrubs. The trail here is generally easy to follow, but keep an eye out for cairns whenever it crosses the creek. The knuckle-shaped mountain looming in front of you during this stretch is Mount Church. About one mile in, the trail funnels into a narrow canyon with steep rock walls. Here, the thick foliage often obscures the trail, which can be hard to follow as it crosses over to the creek’s right (east) side. After the canyon walls open back up, you generally stay on the creek’s left (west) side.

As the trees begin to thin out and large talus fields appear to your left (north), Donaldson Peak will come into view, dominating the sky. The turn to begin climbing up the talus is about a quarter mile from the start of the first talus field. Keep moving along the creek even as the trail disappears until you get to 9,700 feet. Here, you will turn northeast and begin the talus climb up for the upper pond, gaining about 1,100 feet in over half a mile. Head up the rock field, aiming for the left of Donaldson Peak. If you can find the trail about 500 feet up, it will make the trek more straightforward, but if not, keep heading northeast until you reach the plateau at the lower pond (10,620 ft).

From the lower pond, head north a short distance toward a crumbling scramble next to the cliffs. Climb up this rugged drain to the cirque between Church and Donaldson, where you will find the upper pond (10,890 ft).

Upper Pond to Saddle

Directly northeast across the pond is the headwall, where you should see disturbed scree signifying the trail, assuming there isn’t any snow. You will gain 800 feet in a little over a quarter mile from the upper pond to the saddle on aggressively steep rotten rock, so a helmet, poles, and gloves are strongly recommended. 

Navigate around the pond and climb up directly toward the headwall until you can touch the wall itself. Here you should see distinct white markings on the rock. At this point, there will be a narrow ramp of dirt and scree to your right (southeast). Traverse across and up the steep scree until you come to a large rock formation. Turn left (north) and climb up the rotten rock toward the saddle. Hug the cliff wall to your right if needed, using rock cairns for guidance. You will enter the saddle to the right of a tower near a small rock arch.

Saddle to Donaldson Peak

Once at the saddle (11,710 ft), make an immediate right (southeast) turn up toward Donaldson Peak. The summit is very close to the saddle, less than a couple hundred yards away with only 300 feet of gain. Either follow the trail or hug the rocky shelf until you reach the top. The peak is on the left. You will have an outstanding view of Mount Church to the west and No Regrets Peak and Mount Breitenbach to the east.

Saddle to Mount Church

At the saddle, turn left (northwest) along the ridge as it climbs up and down on its way to the false peak. The actual summit of Mount Church is 0.65 miles from the saddle and requires over 500 feet of elevation gain. Route finding will be necessary for much of this section as the trail appears and disappears among the cliffs. You generally want to stay on the ridge as much as possible. There will be a few sections where Class 3 downclimbing to the left will be required, though be careful not to descend too far downhill. Try and get back up onto the ridge whenever possible. The downclimbing sections occur at 0.2, 0.35, and 0.6 miles into the climb, though depending on individual hiker preferences and GPS settings, your results may vary. 

Once you reach the false summit (12,000 ft), Mount Church’s actual top finally appears and is only a short distance, and one downclimb, away. At the top, you will have a striking view of Bad Rock Peak and Leatherman Peak to the north and Donaldson Peak to the south.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Hard are Mount Church and Donaldson Peak?

This mountain duo is one of the more demanding outings among Idaho’s 12ers. In addition to two summits, you also have to contend with substantial elevation gain, extended time above treeline, and several exposed Class 3 sections. Neither summit is especially technical on its own, but the cumulative difficulty of climbing both in a single day makes this a serious route. Hikers should be comfortable with scrambling, route-finding, and spending long stretches on rugged alpine terrain.

What Makes the Ridge Challenging?

The long ridge walk between Donaldson Peak and Mount Church is the crux of the outing. It includes several exposed Class 3 moves and demands careful footing throughout. Unlike a route with one short crux, this hike asks you to stay focused over a longer period of time while already at altitude. That sustained effort is what makes the route feel bigger than the mileage alone might suggest.

Best Time to Hike

Mount Church and Donaldson Peak are generally best climbed in summer and early fall when the ridge is free of lingering snow. Earlier in the season, snow can add difficulty to both the ridge and the gullies below. Because the route spends so much time high on an exposed ridge, stable weather is especially important, and afternoon thunderstorms should be taken seriously.

Tips, Gear, and Common Mistakes

Water is usually available low on the route, but late-season conditions can reduce or eliminate access at the ponds, so plan accordingly. An early start is strongly recommended due to the length of the day and the exposure to afternoon storms. One common mistake is underestimating how tiring the ridge will feel after already climbing Donaldson. Another is assuming the route is just a hike; while much of it is non-technical, the exposed scrambling between the summits requires attention and comfort with Class 3 terrain.

Should You Hike Mount Church and Donaldson Peak?

If you are looking for a rewarding two-summit day in the Lost River Range, this is one of the best outings in Idaho. Strong hikers with prior scrambling experience will likely find it memorable for both the scenery and the ridge traverse. Those new to exposed Class 3 terrain may want to build experience on simpler 12ers before attempting both peaks in a single push.