Goat Mountain Trail #673

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail starts out in deep forest and then switchbacks up at a moderate incline for around 2.5 miles before breaking out into the heather and huckleberry meadows above treeline. The trail continues up and to the right. Eventually, a series of open benches on a broad ridge take you past a few prime campsites before ending at a steep grassy slope. Here, the trail diminishes to a "goat path" that leads up and left through the grassy slopes to the final steep headwall of the basin.

The headwall tops out on the summit ridge with fresh views north to Mt. Larrabee and American and Canadian Border Peaks. Follow the trail to the right along and just below the ridge, rounding a few knobs before eventually ending on the West Peak Knob. The true West Peak lies a short distance to the North across a rocky chasm. This trail offers some of the best views and scenery available off of Hwy 542.