Picked this one as a group daytrip from Boise without knowing what to expect and it became a new favorite hike for all of us! The effort to reward ratio is fabulous with a good trail the whole way, 360-degree views, at least 16 bodies of water visible from the summit, and far fewer crowds than you'd see in the neighboring Sawtooths. Descended to the upper lakes on the way back and cut cross-country for a while...nice seeing the lakes up close but we should have tried to rejoin the main trail at Langer Lake. Lots of downfall in the forest made it a longer bushwhack than expected. Still, great peak!
idpeakgirl - Jul 2, 2018 2:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2018
Great day, perfect weather
Car camped in valley below. Hit the trail before 9. Amazed by the clear views in all directions on the summit. Wasn't worth heading crosscountry to climb the ridge to Langer - all dead/burned trees and face made it utterly unappealing. The Finger Lakes basin, clearly visible from the summit, was burned up too. On the return, dropped to gorgeous Ruffneck Lake (Note: Island and Ruffneck lake names are reversed on the USGS map) and hiked cross country through the lakes area to meet up with the trail below.
Scrambling Man - Jul 19, 2017 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2017
Ruffneck and Langer
Great views from the top. Did Ruffneck and then Langer Peak.
Camped at Langer Lake. Woke up next morning to a chilly air! But the lake reflection views were unbeatable. Then hiked up and summited Ruffneck Peak as the day got hotter and the sun beat down on us. Jon went with me.
mjholmes - Jun 17, 2015 12:22 am Date Climbed: May 31, 2015
Snow, Views and Fun
Enjoyed 360 degree views from the lookout
Buz Groshong - Sep 13, 2011 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2011
Great hike
A great out and back hike with friends. Great views.
SawtoothSean - Dec 18, 2010 2:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2010
Langer Traverse
Interesting trail run, then ridge traverse
mountaingazelle - Jul 7, 2008 4:15 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008
Ruffneck Peak
A fire had burned much of the forest below the mountain. There were a lot of people camping and fishing at Langer Lake. It was apparent that no one had been to the lookout in a while. Great view from the top especially of all the lakes.
Props - Dec 29, 2007 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 1976
First trip
This was my first summit (I was 8 years old) and what really started my lifelong love of the mountains.
this is a good little mountain not too far from Boise that can be climbed with a kid on your back (I carried my 3 year old up and he had a grand time)
BeDrinkable - Jul 12, 2007 10:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2007
nice view
The views from the top are very nice. Last time I was here I chatted with the ranger at the lookout. This time, the lookout was locked up, so I chatted with the flies.
Annalikeslenses - Sep 26, 2019 1:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2019
Unexpected awesomenessPicked this one as a group daytrip from Boise without knowing what to expect and it became a new favorite hike for all of us! The effort to reward ratio is fabulous with a good trail the whole way, 360-degree views, at least 16 bodies of water visible from the summit, and far fewer crowds than you'd see in the neighboring Sawtooths. Descended to the upper lakes on the way back and cut cross-country for a while...nice seeing the lakes up close but we should have tried to rejoin the main trail at Langer Lake. Lots of downfall in the forest made it a longer bushwhack than expected. Still, great peak!
SawtoothSean - Sep 16, 2019 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2019
good early season hikemet a fire tower lookout resident at top
idpeakgirl - Jul 2, 2018 2:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2018
Great day, perfect weatherCar camped in valley below. Hit the trail before 9. Amazed by the clear views in all directions on the summit. Wasn't worth heading crosscountry to climb the ridge to Langer - all dead/burned trees and face made it utterly unappealing. The Finger Lakes basin, clearly visible from the summit, was burned up too. On the return, dropped to gorgeous Ruffneck Lake (Note: Island and Ruffneck lake names are reversed on the USGS map) and hiked cross country through the lakes area to meet up with the trail below.
Scrambling Man - Jul 19, 2017 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2017
Ruffneck and LangerGreat views from the top. Did Ruffneck and then Langer Peak.
Robron234 - Jul 7, 2015 4:46 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2007
Ruffneck Peak summitCamped at Langer Lake. Woke up next morning to a chilly air! But the lake reflection views were unbeatable. Then hiked up and summited Ruffneck Peak as the day got hotter and the sun beat down on us. Jon went with me.
mjholmes - Jun 17, 2015 12:22 am Date Climbed: May 31, 2015
Snow, Views and FunEnjoyed 360 degree views from the lookout
Buz Groshong - Sep 13, 2011 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2011
Great hikeA great out and back hike with friends. Great views.
SawtoothSean - Dec 18, 2010 2:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2010
Langer TraverseInteresting trail run, then ridge traverse
mountaingazelle - Jul 7, 2008 4:15 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008
Ruffneck PeakA fire had burned much of the forest below the mountain. There were a lot of people camping and fishing at Langer Lake. It was apparent that no one had been to the lookout in a while. Great view from the top especially of all the lakes.
Props - Dec 29, 2007 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 1976
First tripThis was my first summit (I was 8 years old) and what really started my lifelong love of the mountains.
boisedoc - Jul 12, 2007 2:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2006
hot daythis is a good little mountain not too far from Boise that can be climbed with a kid on your back (I carried my 3 year old up and he had a grand time)
BeDrinkable - Jul 12, 2007 10:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2007
nice viewThe views from the top are very nice. Last time I was here I chatted with the ranger at the lookout. This time, the lookout was locked up, so I chatted with the flies.