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Iddings Peak lies along a ridge directly west of Crazy Peak, the highest point in the Crazy Mountains. A little intimidating at first, Iddings is a great peak for the adventurous.

Point 10574 on the left, Iddings Peak on the right, and Pear Lake on the bottom. August 2008.

The ridge between Point 10574 and Iddings Peak.

Getting There

A couple of options exist for approaching Iddings Peak. First, one can hike in from the Half-Moon Campground/trailhead. Another option is to approach via the Smeller Lake trail. Camping options exist for both options.

Via Half Moon trailhead:
On I-90, take either Big Timber exit (they both will take you to the same spot) and head north on Hwy. 191. Drive about 8 miles from downtown Big Timber and turn left onto Wormser Road (Note: on Google Maps the road is called Big Timber Canyon Road, but if I remember correctly, the actual road sign is Wormser Road). Drive 3.5 miles on the dirt road and look for a sign denoting "Forest Service Access." Turn left and follow the road to the trailhead. There is a fork in the road about 6 miles from this last turn, stay to the right and you'll be fine. The road passes through private land and you will go through a gate. Please leave the gate as you found it, which is most likely closed. Hike up Big Timber Canyon to a well marked trail junction, crossing the creek as you continue towards Granite, Thunder, and Blue lakes.

Red Tape

There is no official wilderness here, but backcountry camping ethics do apply. A campfire ban is in effect within 1/4 mile of Blue, Thunder, and Twin Lakes. Also, if you plan on climbing a peak in the Crazy Mountains, plan on trespassing on private land. It doesn't seem like anyone cares or pays much attention to this fact, but be aware either way.

Camping

Camping is available in a plethora of spots around Blue, Thunder, and Granite lakes. To the south of Iddings, one can set up camp at Smeller Lake. For the true mountain goats among us, leave the tent in the car.

Iddings Peak (center) as viewed over Pear Lake. Photo by torreyr

External Links

USGS Crazy Peak Quad
NOAA Weather
Gallatin National Forest