Kepros Mountain

Kepros is one of the taller summits within sight of Boise, but it’s not readily visible and not super well known. Of those who do hike it, most don’t go all the way out the undulating ridgeline to the true summit. The distance and difficulty, plus the lack of marked trails keep most of the crowds away. Every step of the hike is quite scenic, however, and the remote summit is certainly worth all the work. The route is a combination of an old motorcycle trail, a jeep road, and more recently established hiker paths along an undulating ridgeline. Hiking any distance along these trails yields phenomenal views––over the city of Boise, most of the Boise Mountains, and more distant ranges of Idaho––but making it all the way to Kepros is of course what earns the bragging rights.

This hike is best in mid spring, when most of the snow has melted but before it gets to hot. In typical years the trail is reasonably dry in early April, though you may still contend with snow and mud here and there. Yellow flowers burst among the sagebrush in late April, and more colors pop throughout May and June. There’s no shade anywhere on this windswept ridgeline, so summer is not the time to come. Fall isn’t good either, not because of the weather but because it’s hunting season, and this is a popular zone.

Get there by driving Blacks Creek Road (a good dirt road), and parking at an unmarked side road, where there’s a closed gate right around the corner. Take care not to obstruct either road when you park, as large trucks and trailers sometimes come through. The start of the trail is clearly visible, heading straight up the nearby hill. This is actually one of the steepest parts of the whole hike, but it’s short. In less than half a mile you’ll gain the ridge, then turn right to begin walking along it. Note that turning left takes you on the path to Three Point Mountain, a more popular and much shorter hike.

On the way to Kepros there are many peaks along the ridge. The tallest of these have bypass trails around them, making the hike easier overall. The route mapped here utilizes the key bypasses, but you could hike straight over the humps instead if you want to. After two distinct bypass routes and at about 2 miles from the start, a third bypass (mapped here) goes around an unnamed peak. This summit is actually only 50 feet shorter than Kepros, so you may want to tag it just for bonus points. Whether summitting this or bypassing it, you’ll next have a long and perhaps demoralizing descent between this peak and the final climb up Kepros.

The singletrack you’ve been on thus far meets a jeep road (closed to vehicles except in the fall), and you’ll follow this the rest of the way. It’s steep in short sections, but for the most part it’s easy walking. Try to enjoy the downhill, even with the knowledge you’ll have to regain it on the way back. The final push to Kepros is quite steep, knocking out about 500 feet of elevation in only half a mile. But after that, you’re there! Enjoy the 360-degree panorama that includes the city, the reservoirs, and endless mountains. You might also find a summit register, in case you’re inclined to add your name. On the return trip, if you still have energy, you might hit the summits you missed along the ridge.