"A" Peak is the second highest point in the Cabinet Mountain Range and resides within the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness Area. Designated a Primitive Area in 1935, the 94,360 acre area then became part of the National Wilderness Preservation Act of 1964, and is defined as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain...."
"A" Peak has had several names over the years. In 1897 the General Land Office plat for Montana called it Summit Peak. A 1914 Kootenai National Forest map shows it as Craig Peak. It seems the Forest Service settled on "A" Peak in 1922, for it's shape and as a shorter version of Apex Peak, as it was labeled on a 1927 Lincoln County map.
The Cabinet Mountains are composed of Sedimentary Layers that were lifted and folded, then carved and shaped by glaciers. The Cabinets can receive over 100 inches of rainfall per year and snow accumulation can exceed 500 inches in the high country. Wildlife in the Cabinets is diverse. Anything from Marmots to Mountain Goats and Grasshoppers to Grizzlies. Although Black Bears outnumber the Grizzly population in the Cabinets - both should be taken very seriously.
"A" Peak from Granite Lake
From the north at Granite Lake, "A" Peak dominates the scenery, towering over 4,000 feet above the water. It's this sheer face of "A" Peak that makes it so enticing, however, one can scramble to the peak from Vimy Ridge from the west or Snowshoe Lake from the south.
"A" Peak and Blackwell Glacier.
Getting There
N. Fork Bull River trail #972:
Take Highway 56 and turn east on the South Fork Bull River Road No. 410. When the road forks stay right. After a mile turn northeast on Road No. 2722 and go about 2 miles to the trailhead.
*As of July 28th, 2008 Road No. 2722 is closed due to a huge washout. Be prepared to hike the 2 extra miles to get there.
Road Washout
Granite Lake Trail:
Here's a Google Earth Video of the Granite Lake area and "A" Peak:
Please message me with information on additional routes.
Snowshoe Peak (on left) from the Summit of "A" Peak.
Go up... more or less
Camping
View from Snowshoe Lake
Camping at Snowshoe Lake or Granite Lake makes a great base camp. Please see this link for more information: Snowshoe Lake Route
Back-country camping on Vimy Ridge provides excellent views but severe weather exposure.
A Peak From Vimy Ridge
Watch out for Bears.
Red Tape
The Cabinet Mountain Wilderness Area has typical wilderness regulations. No permits are required for hiking or camping but signing in at the trailhead is required.
Additional Information
Summit Register
When we summited in 2004 we did find a very old summit registry (pencil & paper) hidden under a rock. It was in a glass jar with a rusty lid. We carefully signed it and put it back, wondering how long this delicate container had been atop this mountain.
Kootenai National Forest
www.fs.fed.us/r1/kootenai
1101 U.S. Highway 2 West
Libby, MT 59923
(406) 293-6211
Cabinet Ranger District
2693 Highway 200
Trout Creek, MT 59874
(406) 827-3533
"And isn't sanity really just a one-trick pony anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking, but when you're good and crazy, ooh ooh ooh, the sky is the limit!"
--The Tick
