Hike To Below Peak 5651 - Owyhee Mountains

Last updated on March 14, 2017

Summary: This review is about a hike in Owyhee County, Idaho, a place that you might find is a good vacation spot if you are looking for uncrowded outdoor recreation. It's also unique, rugged and quite beautiful. 

I went on a solo cross-country hike in the Owyhee Mountain southwest of Grand View, Idaho. Peak 5651 was my destination but I never made all the way to that little spot on this earth but I was close. Why? I ran out of energy and I'm not in the best physical condition after a long, cold winter.

The view from near Owyhee Peak 5651 in March 2017. Rough Mtn. is the name of the snow covered peak in the mid-ground

Stop For Food and Supplies
If you are need of some last minutes food or supplies, there is a cafe and a small general store on Highway 78 just outside of Grand View, Idaho. For a better choice of supplies and munchies, buy them in the Boise, Caldwell or Meridan area before heading out.

Here is Grand View, Idaho link to Google Maps 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grand+View,+ID+83624/@42.9832396,-116.1069455,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x54addd3e7db5cd89:0x95af201b2651a22e!8m2!3d42.9896139!4d-116.0934305?hl=en&authuser=0 Mountain Home is a city in real decline and it's a good idea to stay away when on vacation.

Details:

• Coordinates the photo was taken: 42.7479889, -116.2795861
• Taken on March 12, 2017, at around 3:30 P.M.
• 20 miles southwest of Grand View and 60 miles south of Boise, Idaho (as the crow flies)
• All lands along the hike to the peak were public and freely open to hiking 
• To start the hike, park at or near coordinates 42.766069, -116.280721 just off Mud Flat Road.
• There are no trails to the peak so you just need to point your nose towards your destination and start walking. No, really.

A spit of land called "Between the Creeks" can be seen in the background.

Why Off Trail There?
The primary reason I wanted to peak-out in this particular area was so I could view and possible hike part of the way down into the Shoofly Creek canyon a.k.a. Perjure Canyon. The hike up to this butte was tougher than I expected so I stopped when the view was good enough. And the views of this little-visited canyon area were spectacular.

Video was taken from the summit area

When looking along the northern horizon I could see the snow covered mountain peaks extending from Near Ontario, Oregon and eastward to the Pioneer Mountains near Haily, Idaho. That's a quite a view considering Haily is over 100 miles from Peak 5651. 

Originally published on March 14, 2017.

Thanks,


Tim Bondy Freelance
Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"

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