The Owyhee Mountains of Southwest Idaho are great a great place for solitude. The high-desert terrain is best visited during the shoulder seasons when the temperatures are mild. Toy Mountain is located in the southeasterly section of the Owyhee’s, and is the highpoint on a section of the main Owyhee crest that extends southeast of Toy Pass.

With some unseasonable pleasant weather for early December, I was looking for something not too far from home to get out and stretch my legs. Toy Mountain seemed like a good option, and would put me in reach of a total of 3 Owyhee peaks.

I made the 90 minute drive from south Boise, through Oreana, up Bachman Grade, and parked at Toy Pass. It was a little breezy, but not bad as I hiked the jeep road leading south from the pass. It wasn’t long before I arrived at the first summit of the day, Peak 6302’ (I’m nicknaming it Toy Pass Peak).

Skies were clear, and I could tell it was going to be a nice day. I continued south, cross-country along the ridge. Once down to a saddle, I hiked up another jeep road that took me most of the way up Peak 6497’ (nickname Toy Peak). To reach the summit, I left the road and bushwhacked through some mahogany shrubs before arriving at the highpoint.

After the second peak, I continued hiking south through the brush, then contoured around to the jeep road again, which I was able to follow all the way to the saddle south of Toy Mountain. I left the road at the saddle, dodged a few cows, and made my way up to the summit.

The summit of Toy Mountain was windy, but I found a spot just off the ridge that provided great views and made for a good spot to stop and enjoy a PB&J. I could see Rough Mountain to the south, the expansive Snake River Plain to the east, and Quicksilver Mountain in the distance to the northwest.

After lunch, I descended back down to the jeep road, and followed it back to my rig parked at Toy Pass. Round trip was just over 12 miles, 2500’ of elevation gain, and 3 peaks in 4.5 hours. Definitely nice to still be out hiking in early December. (Note, it snowed a few days later, and they then closed off the road for the winter.)

Map of the route, 12 miles and 2500' gain round trip.	View south from the summit of Toy Pass Peak. Toy Mountain in the distance.	Toy Peak from the north.	Quicksilver Mountain and Toy Pass Peak from Toy Peak.	Summit of Toy Peak.
Toy Mountain from the west.	View north from the summit of Toy Mountain. Quicksilver Mountain in the distance.	Rough Mountain, view southeast from Toy Mountain.	Toy Mountain summit view looking north at the Snake River Plain.	View of Quicksilver Mountain during the hike back to the trailhead.
Map of the route, 12 miles and 2500' gain round trip.View south from the summit of Toy Pass Peak. Toy Mountain in the distance.Toy Peak from the north.Quicksilver Mountain and Toy Pass Peak from Toy Peak.Summit of Toy Peak.Toy Mountain from the west.View north from the summit of Toy Mountain. Quicksilver Mountain in the distance.Rough Mountain, view southeast from Toy Mountain.Toy Mountain summit view looking north at the Snake River Plain.View of Quicksilver Mountain during the hike back to the trailhead.