Needles

Getting There

Paddy Flats
The Paddy Flats road is also called the Kennally Creek road, or FS 388. This is a winding dirt road that takes the long way to get to where you need to go. In addition, the trailhead, if it can be called that, is not marked. It is passable, in season, to passenger vehicles. However, you probably won’t make it without a Payette National Forest map.

 

Go north from Donnelly on Highway 55 for about 3 miles , looking for the sign to Paddy Flats to the east. Take the Paddy Flats road and follow it into the mountains. At times it seems that the road is going the wrong direction. At times it is. But keep going until you are above Sloan Point. There is a pull-out of sorts near a summit (44.73236 / -115.89454). Look for the faint tread heading east. This old trail is quite scenic and will get you close to the Needles. But not quite. So have your map and compass handy when the tread disappears. If you did a good job following the trail, it is a pleasant 1-mile bushwack to the summit.
5.5 miles, 2600’ gain 

Gold Fork
Going north from Cascade on Highway 55, go bout 13 miles and turn east onto the Gold Fork road. This road doesn’t look like it goes anywhere. But follow it across the flats through some right-angle turns and you will soon be heading up Gold Fork Creek. As with the Paddy Flats route, you probably won’t make it without a Payette National Forest map.

There is a trailhead of sorts at the upper end of Gold Fork, but you won’t be following a trial much. The good news is that it is a relatively short bushwack to the summit, and only the first part is really brushy.
2 miles, 2000’ gain.

Red Tape

None.

 

Except that this is snow country, and also big-game hunting country. Check ahead for seasons and road conditions.For additional information on this climb and other peaks in the area, please see Tom Lopez's excellent book, Idaho: A Climbing Guide.