Snowslogger - Oct 10, 2023 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2021
During Elkhorn Crest Trail Hike
Continued from Twin Lakes and climbed Rock Creek Butte along the way to Summit Lake for a great swim! Previously climbed in 2012.
Super Dave - Dec 30, 2021 3:53 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2021
From Marble Pass
Unsettled weather, but a great hike and saw lots of goats. Started at Marble Pass and did Rock Creek Butte, Elkhorn Peak, and Marble Point. Trip Report
Hiked up from the Twin Lakes Trailhead and went up the southeast ridge, then descended the southwest ridge. Both ridges were about the same: a little bit of loose rock/gravel, but mostly just a steep hike, not a scramble. On our way down, we skipped the huge switchbacks on the Twin Lakes Trail and dropped straight down to the upper lake.
Sadly, we saw only one mountain goat while on the crest. Saw a handful more down by Twin Lakes.
Annalikeslenses - Sep 8, 2020 11:41 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2020
Dustiest/windiest/goatiest
Picked the day with 45mph gusts and blowing dust/smoke and zilch for visibility from the top, but on the plus side, we did see about ten goats (one from only yards away bounding up to the trail!) and a small bear waddling down the road on the drive out! The road to the trailhead is quite rough in spots and very steep toward the end so we parked the Subaru right below the sign saying "Twin Lakes TH 1/2 mile" and started from there. Tracker estimated us at 13.5ish miles. Good day and good trail despite the conditions!
Judd97 - Oct 19, 2017 10:34 pm Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2017
Goats
These peaks are just infested with mountain goats. If you wanna see some goats, walk around on Elkhorn Ridge. I must've seen at least 50 goats today. Mountain goats are, I think, some of the most judgmental of all wildlife; effortlessly bounding from perch to perch on the cliff edge and then turning to watch you as you awkwardly pick your way up the scree. You know they're judging you.
Anyways, Twin Lakes to Rock Creek Butte. Wonderful day, but windy!
There was bad weather for weeks in WA so Heather and I drove through OR, CA, NV, UT, and ID. We climbed 37 peaks in 19 days and Rock Creek Butte was the last one. There were some thunderstorms here and there while we were hiking but thankfully none of them hit us. We saw a lot of goat fur on bushes near the summit. trip report
cjwhat - Jun 17, 2015 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2014
Bad finish
Pete, Kyle and I climbed Elkhorn Peak (see 'Good start'), then took the trail over to Rock Creek Butte. We left the trail at 1400 (summited Elkhorn at 1215) and reached the summit at 1505. T-storms came in quick and furious as we started to descend. The hail was as big as a quarter ... and hard when you received a head shot ... and the thunder was terrifying with a long way to go for safety. Obviously we survived to reach the car at 1830.
scgrant - Jul 26, 2014 12:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2014
Rock Creek Butte
Via Twin Lakes. We climbed Elkhorn Peak first and then on to Rock Creek Butte.
Nick Turtura - Sep 29, 2013 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2013
Perfect day
Woke up early and drove 8 hours to Twin Lakes TH. It was raining pretty good but I did just drive 8 hours, so I headed up. It is a beautiful trail and every once and a while the clouds would part and I saw a beautiful valley down below. I hit snow just below twin lakes and was post holing to my knees by the summit. I had no view from the top due to blizzard like conditions. For some reason I had a wonderful time. I was completely alone with exception to the mountain goats and deer. Very peaceful climb.
Redwic - Sep 5, 2013 4:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2013
Nice Summit
The hiking route was fairly straightforward. The off-trail section of the southwest ridge took me nearly 30 minutes, which seemed odd because distance-wise it did not look that far. MANY mountain goats down near Twin Lakes. The summit views were not as great as I had hoped due to a couple of nearby ridges also being high-elevation. The summit cairn is MASSIVE. OR CoGPP 32/36
olymountainman - Jul 1, 2012 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2011
A nice scramble
Went on a nice roadtrip to chase the weather and ended up camping at twin lakes and climbing this beast along with several other no namers in the area. great little scramble, we stayed off the trail because its always more interesting that way :)
Troy B - Jun 20, 2010 10:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2010
Rock Creek Butte and Elkhorn Pk
Had an amazing trip, most of the trails above Twin Lake are still snow covered, but the views from top were incredible.
nickkarl - Oct 19, 2009 11:17 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2009
Marble Pass
A rough road in but a nice hike on the trail. Saw some Mt. Goats as usual for the area. Love it back here!
walked up the trail from Marble Pass. Saw a few goats. Summit register has entries from the 1970s if you sift through all of the cards in there. I had a tire blow out on the way down the 4WD road.
Luke Morris - Feb 15, 2009 1:19 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2008
Me CalebEOC and Cascadetraveler
This was an awesome trip! Saw a plethora of mountain goats.
Paul McClellan - Nov 17, 2008 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
S Face/SE Ridge
Climbed Rock Creek Butte just left of SE Ridge after climbing Elkhorn Peak from Twin Lakes Trailhead. Very scenic country and worth more exploring.
cascadetraveler - Sep 4, 2008 12:02 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2008
Elkhorn High!
My first time in the high Elkhorns. Hiked the Elkhorn Crest Trail from Marble Creek in the south. We scrambled up Elkhorn Peak first and finished up are scenic alpine trek with a scramble up Rock Creek Butte. This area dominates the surrounding prairies and commands distant views in all directions. The Mountain Goat population is doing well here.
calebEOC - Jun 24, 2007 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Up Twin Lakes Trail
Not a cloud in the sky, great weather, herds of mountain goats, and got strafed by a northern goshawk on the way back down the trail. Twin Lakes basin is absolutely beautiful!
Sep 2nd 2008 Did this one again with Larry (cascadetraveler) and my brother Luke.
idahomtnhigh - May 12, 2007 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 1995
Pine Creek Reservoir
My Friend Jim and I climbed from Pine Creek Reservoir along the bottom of the east face and up to the saddle southeast of the summit. From there we followed the southeast ridge to the top. Great scramble!
Snowslogger - Oct 10, 2023 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2021
During Elkhorn Crest Trail HikeContinued from Twin Lakes and climbed Rock Creek Butte along the way to Summit Lake for a great swim! Previously climbed in 2012.
Super Dave - Dec 30, 2021 3:53 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2021
From Marble PassUnsettled weather, but a great hike and saw lots of goats. Started at Marble Pass and did Rock Creek Butte, Elkhorn Peak, and Marble Point. Trip Report
adamschneider - Jul 25, 2021 10:10 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2021
Up the SE ridge, down the SW ridgeHiked up from the Twin Lakes Trailhead and went up the southeast ridge, then descended the southwest ridge. Both ridges were about the same: a little bit of loose rock/gravel, but mostly just a steep hike, not a scramble. On our way down, we skipped the huge switchbacks on the Twin Lakes Trail and dropped straight down to the upper lake.
Sadly, we saw only one mountain goat while on the crest. Saw a handful more down by Twin Lakes.
Annalikeslenses - Sep 8, 2020 11:41 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2020
Dustiest/windiest/goatiestPicked the day with 45mph gusts and blowing dust/smoke and zilch for visibility from the top, but on the plus side, we did see about ten goats (one from only yards away bounding up to the trail!) and a small bear waddling down the road on the drive out! The road to the trailhead is quite rough in spots and very steep toward the end so we parked the Subaru right below the sign saying "Twin Lakes TH 1/2 mile" and started from there. Tracker estimated us at 13.5ish miles. Good day and good trail despite the conditions!
Judd97 - Oct 19, 2017 10:34 pm Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2017
GoatsThese peaks are just infested with mountain goats. If you wanna see some goats, walk around on Elkhorn Ridge. I must've seen at least 50 goats today. Mountain goats are, I think, some of the most judgmental of all wildlife; effortlessly bounding from perch to perch on the cliff edge and then turning to watch you as you awkwardly pick your way up the scree. You know they're judging you.
Anyways, Twin Lakes to Rock Creek Butte. Wonderful day, but windy!
gimpilator - Jul 18, 2016 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2016
37 peaks in 19 daysThere was bad weather for weeks in WA so Heather and I drove through OR, CA, NV, UT, and ID. We climbed 37 peaks in 19 days and Rock Creek Butte was the last one. There were some thunderstorms here and there while we were hiking but thankfully none of them hit us. We saw a lot of goat fur on bushes near the summit. trip report
cjwhat - Jun 17, 2015 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2014
Bad finishPete, Kyle and I climbed Elkhorn Peak (see 'Good start'), then took the trail over to Rock Creek Butte. We left the trail at 1400 (summited Elkhorn at 1215) and reached the summit at 1505. T-storms came in quick and furious as we started to descend. The hail was as big as a quarter ... and hard when you received a head shot ... and the thunder was terrifying with a long way to go for safety. Obviously we survived to reach the car at 1830.
scgrant - Jul 26, 2014 12:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2014
Rock Creek ButteVia Twin Lakes. We climbed Elkhorn Peak first and then on to Rock Creek Butte.
Nick Turtura - Sep 29, 2013 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2013
Perfect dayWoke up early and drove 8 hours to Twin Lakes TH. It was raining pretty good but I did just drive 8 hours, so I headed up. It is a beautiful trail and every once and a while the clouds would part and I saw a beautiful valley down below. I hit snow just below twin lakes and was post holing to my knees by the summit. I had no view from the top due to blizzard like conditions. For some reason I had a wonderful time. I was completely alone with exception to the mountain goats and deer. Very peaceful climb.
Redwic - Sep 5, 2013 4:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2013
Nice SummitThe hiking route was fairly straightforward. The off-trail section of the southwest ridge took me nearly 30 minutes, which seemed odd because distance-wise it did not look that far. MANY mountain goats down near Twin Lakes. The summit views were not as great as I had hoped due to a couple of nearby ridges also being high-elevation. The summit cairn is MASSIVE. OR CoGPP 32/36
olymountainman - Jul 1, 2012 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2011
A nice scrambleWent on a nice roadtrip to chase the weather and ended up camping at twin lakes and climbing this beast along with several other no namers in the area. great little scramble, we stayed off the trail because its always more interesting that way :)
Troy B - Jun 20, 2010 10:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2010
Rock Creek Butte and Elkhorn PkHad an amazing trip, most of the trails above Twin Lake are still snow covered, but the views from top were incredible.
nickkarl - Oct 19, 2009 11:17 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2009
Marble PassA rough road in but a nice hike on the trail. Saw some Mt. Goats as usual for the area. Love it back here!
boisedoc - Sep 7, 2009 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2009
rocky road, quick hikewalked up the trail from Marble Pass. Saw a few goats. Summit register has entries from the 1970s if you sift through all of the cards in there. I had a tire blow out on the way down the 4WD road.
Luke Morris - Feb 15, 2009 1:19 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2008
Me CalebEOC and CascadetravelerThis was an awesome trip! Saw a plethora of mountain goats.
Paul McClellan - Nov 17, 2008 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
S Face/SE RidgeClimbed Rock Creek Butte just left of SE Ridge after climbing Elkhorn Peak from Twin Lakes Trailhead. Very scenic country and worth more exploring.
cascadetraveler - Sep 4, 2008 12:02 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2008
Elkhorn High!My first time in the high Elkhorns. Hiked the Elkhorn Crest Trail from Marble Creek in the south. We scrambled up Elkhorn Peak first and finished up are scenic alpine trek with a scramble up Rock Creek Butte. This area dominates the surrounding prairies and commands distant views in all directions. The Mountain Goat population is doing well here.
calebEOC - Jun 24, 2007 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Up Twin Lakes TrailNot a cloud in the sky, great weather, herds of mountain goats, and got strafed by a northern goshawk on the way back down the trail. Twin Lakes basin is absolutely beautiful!
Sep 2nd 2008 Did this one again with Larry (cascadetraveler) and my brother Luke.
idahomtnhigh - May 12, 2007 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 1995
Pine Creek ReservoirMy Friend Jim and I climbed from Pine Creek Reservoir along the bottom of the east face and up to the saddle southeast of the summit. From there we followed the southeast ridge to the top. Great scramble!
Dennis Poulin - Sep 27, 2004 4:32 pm
Route Climbed: Twin Lakes Trail Date Climbed: 25 September 2004A fanatastic fall day with great hiking partners. The views were limitless and the goats were beautiful..