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Elevation: 8,634 ft
GPS: 44.06857, -114.97445
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Shared By: Brad Brandewie on Jan 7, 2007 · Updates
Admins: Mike Engle, Eric Bluemn
Warning Access Issue: Please use WAG bags for human waste and pack it out! See request from the Wilderness Ranger in the Sawtooths. DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

From a climber's perspective, the Elephant's Perch is possibly Idaho's best piece of stone. Not just because of the quality lines and solid granite though, it's the whole experience.

You start with a nice, 5-mile boat ride across Redfish Lake. As the miles pass on the water, you'll be glad you paid the $10 for the ride. From the far end of the lake it's a steep and pristine 3-mile hike to the camping below the Perch. If you're out of shape, you'll know it in the last mile.

It would be difficult to overstate the beauty of this camp. You're between the lip of the hanging valley and the first of the Saddleback Lakes, with the Elephant's Perch on one side and the multi-towered massif of the Goat's Perch on the other. Great stuff by any standard. Trout live in the Saddleback Lakes, so get a license and pack a rod if you'll be taking any rest days.

The Perch itself is a photogenic, golden granite wall with vertical fractures covering its flanks. It soars roughly 1000 feet for much of its width and hosts around 30 routes. You won't find many fixed anchors, so be prepared to build your own. The rock quality is excellent, but loose rock does exist, especially on the less-traveled routes.

The easiest and most popular route on the Perch is the 5.9 Mountaineer's Route. Other popular classics include The Direct Beckey, Astro-Elephant, the Sunrise Book, and Myopia.

To descend there are two options:

1. Descend the gully to the climber's right of the Perch. This involves some loose rock and some rappelling.

2. When you top out, go to climber's left and work your way down and left around the bulk of the Perch to eventually meet up with the trail you took to the base. This involves some short downclimbs and may require some scouting around if it's your first time.

Getting There Suggest change

Take the boat across (or hike around) Redfish Lake and begin hiking up the main drainage. You're heading for the second drainage on the left after the Grand Mogul.

After roughly 2 miles, you leave the main trail and follow a smaller trail up to the base of the Perch. It can be hard to spot the trail junction where you leave the main trail so be alert. You'll cross two foot-bridges close to one another and then another one a little farther up the trail. After the third bridge, look for the creek on the left. You want to leave the main trail at its point nearest the creek. You should cross the creek (on logs) within a couple rope lengths of leaving the main trail.

This trail becomes easy to follow after crossing the creek and leads up and right into the valley below the Perch.

20 Total Climbs

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Location: The Elephant's Perch Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at The Elephant's Perch

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 248
Mountaineer's Route
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 33
Sideline
Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 4
Slipstream (first pitch)
Trad, Alpine
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 22
Splittgerber-March Direct
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 95
Astro Elephant
Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R
 6
Divine Guidance
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 83
Myopia
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 116
Direct Beckey
Trad, Alpine 12 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 26
Original Beckey
Trad, Alpine 12 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 96
The Fine Line
Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 43
Sunrise Book
Trad, Alpine 4 pitches
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b PG13
 6
Mojo
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Mountaineer's Route
 248
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Sideline
 33
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
Slipstream (first pitch)
 4
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, Alpine
Splittgerber-March Direct
 22
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Astro Elephant
 95
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
Divine Guidance
 6
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Myopia
 83
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Direct Beckey
 116
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad, Alpine 12 pitches
Original Beckey
 26
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad, Alpine 12 pitches
The Fine Line
 96
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
Sunrise Book
 43
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad, Alpine 4 pitches
Mojo
 6
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b PG13 Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
More Classic Climbs in The Elephant's Perch »

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