Senate Peak is located in central Idaho’s Boulder Mountains. It is within the Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness Area, on the main crest of the Boulder range, just west of Galena Peak. Senate Peak makes for a straightforward climb with great views. Follow Senate Creek Road, and a highish clearance vehicle will get you to the end of the road and the start of the trail.

With a great forecast for the weekend, it was a great time to “sneak one in” before the weather turned to winter. After several emails exchanged, we decided on Senate Peak so I could be home in time to watch the Brewers try and make it to the World Series for the first time since 1982.

It was chilly when we (Michael, Steve, JJ, John, and me) made it to the trailhead. Shortly thereafter, we met LT coming down the trail. He was looking for his dogs (we found them not far up the trail), and then he and Nick were heading up Galena Peak.

The trail was well maintained on its way up Senate Creek, then hung a left (west) before gaining the southwest ridge of Senate Peak. Hiking was easy with minimal brush, and we made steady progress amidst nice conversation on our way to tree line, and then to Pt 10451’.

Views from the Boulder crest were excellent, with the Smoky Mountains behind us to the south, the Sawtooths to the west, Castle Peak and the White Clouds to the north, and Galena Peak staring us in the face to the east.

Next we had to follow the ridge eastward to our summit. There were some ups and downs, a bit of snow to deal with, and some requisite Boulder range talus to round things out. But no serious obstacles, and we made it to the summit in good spirits. Our timing was just right to see LT and Nick arrive on the summit of Galena Peak at about the same time.

Since it had only been a short three-mile climb, and the weather was nothing short of perfect, we had plenty of time to hang out on the summit and enjoy the views while eating lunch. For me, it was my 400th mountain climbed, which made my PB&J all the more satisfying.

We decided to take a more direct route on the way down, and did loose and rocky descent down into the valley. I wouldn’t recommend this as an ascent route, but it was manageable coming down. Once down in the valley, we wandered through sagebrush for a while before regaining the trail, which we followed back to the car.

It had been a great day in the mountains. Great views, great friends, the weather was perfect, and we even got finished in time for me to catch the baseball game. (Brewers lost unfortunately.) Round trip was about 5 miles, 3100’ elevation gain, in a leisurely 5 hours.

Map of the route, 5 miles and 3100' gain round trip. We went clockwise.	Start of the hike.	Nearing treeline.	Smoky Mountains at our back.	Senate Peak is the far right end of the ridge.
Great views on our way up.	A look at the ridge traverse ahead.	Some nice Boulder Range talus.	Summit of Senate Peak comes into view, Galena Peak in the background.	Final stretch to the summit of Senate Peak.
Nearing the summit, Sawtooths in the background.	Castle Peak and the White Clouds to the north from the summit.	Colorful group on the summit of Senate Peak.	Leaving the summit of Senate Peak. (JJ Thomas photo.)	Descending to the Senate Creek valley.
Map of the route, 5 miles and 3100' gain round trip. We went clockwise.Start of the hike.Nearing treeline.Smoky Mountains at our back.Senate Peak is the far right end of the ridge.Great views on our way up.A look at the ridge traverse ahead.Some nice Boulder Range talus.Summit of Senate Peak comes into view, Galena Peak in the background.Final stretch to the summit of Senate Peak.Nearing the summit, Sawtooths in the background.Castle Peak and the White Clouds to the north from the summit.Colorful group on the summit of Senate Peak.Leaving the summit of Senate Peak. (JJ Thomas photo.)Descending to the Senate Creek valley.