Vienna Peak

Location: Extreme southern part of the Sawtooths

Nearby Peaks: Abe's Armchair, Bromaghin Peak, McDonald Peak

Linkups: Abe's Armchair

Difficulty:  Easy climber's trail leads to easy off trail scrambling

Usage: hiking, great winter snow-shoe

Terrain:  hiking up creek valley leads to spectacular alpine basin, relatively easy ridge scrambling

Traffic:  very light

Summit Register:  Yes

History / Etymology:  Named after the nearby historic town and mine. The town of Vienna is now a ghost town. Many old mining relics remain in this area

Nearest Paved Roads:  ID-75

Nearest Dirt Roads / Conditions:  Smiley Creek Road- good and usually passable by 2WD

Approach Trails / Conditions:  Sawmill Creek trail is unofficial, but decent up to the lake, and sparse beyond that

Main Route:  Sawmill Creek- starts near where Sawmill Creek passes under Smiley Creek. Follow a sometime faint trail staying north of Sawmill Creek. After a series of switchbacks, the trail levels off before climbing toward the small unnamed lake.  Beyond the lake, travel cross country toward the NW and find the north ridge of Vienna.  Other ways to access the ridge are possible.  Follow the ridge south to the summit.

Main Route Stats:  7.4miles / 3355 (round trip)

Average RT Time:  3-5 hours

Other Routes:  Beaver Creek, Mill Gulch

Jurisdiction:  National Forest

Permit:  No

Other Users / Issues:  Hunters in Fall

Maps:  USGS Quad- Frenchman Creek

Guide Book:  Tom Lopez,  Idaho: A Climbing Guide

Climbing Season:  Almost year round because of proximity to ID-75

Ideal Climbing Time:  May-Oct

Nearest Weather Station:  Vienna (SNOTEL), Smiley Creek (Web Cam), Stanley

Weather Relative to Region: slightly drier, very close to average temps 

Car Camping Sites:  Alturas Lake, Smiley Creek

Backpacking Sites:  Basin just east of peak, not typical backpacking area

Flora & Fauna

Potential Wildlife:  Badger, Beaver, Black Bear, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Cougar, Coyote, Elk, Marmot, Marten, Moose, Mountain Goat, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout

Confirmed Wildlife: Pronghorn, Elk, Marmot, Clark's Nutcracker

Vegetation:  Lodgepole, Aspen

Images

View Vienna Peak Image Gallery - 10 Images