Hike Cache Peak via Independence Lakes Sawtooth National Forest, ID

Aug 25, 2022 — Cache Peak is the high point of the Albion Range in southern Idaho. This mountain is visited less frequently than its slightly lower northern neighbor, Mount Harrison, which has a road to the summit and a popular recreation area. Most peakbaggers seeking out Cache Peak seem to prefer coming from the west via a 4WD road and then using the Independence Lakes Trail to reach the saddle. I chose to instead start from the official Independence Lakes Trailhead from the north in order to check out the lakes as well as visit the peak. It only added about 800 extra vertical gain, I'd get to see some lakes, and I wouldn't have to drive a bad road. To reach the trailhead, most seem to come from the Oakley-Elba Road via the east here  (42.25190, -113.57546), but I came in from the west here (42.24545, -113.77433). The road is passable by any vehicle to the saddle here (42.24458, -113.70639), where I turned south and took a less good road that's still likely passable by sedans if driving slowly.

For some reason, I was expecting Independence Lakes to be more popular, but I was happy to have some unexpected solitude on this well-maintained trail. I started in search of the Ranger Trail, the first trail segment I'd be using. After some confusion, I walked across a footbridge and hiked through a picnic area where I was able to locate it. This trail begins as a wide, old road before narrowing later on. I took a break really early on, realizing my body hurt. Like, a lot. I was quite happy I'd decided to do this hike rather than my original much more ambitious plans.

While mostly forested, the first portion of the hike often had sweeping views of the idyllic Idaho landscape to the north. After a mile and a half on the light undulations on the Ranger Trail along the mountain slope, the trail curved southwest and started ascending using the Independence Lakes Trail. A bunch of switchbacks led through the forest, nothing particularly noteworthy or interesting, until reaching the first of the Independence Lakes, marked by a sign.

The Independence Lakes Trail continued through meadows and forest until the second (the largest) lake, where the trail became difficult to follow. I recommend keeping to the edge of this lake even if the trails seem to lead away from it, since those confusing options seem to result in boulder-hopping through the forest without a trail. Once I reached the southern end of the large lake, I was able to pick my way up a less-obvious trail for <0.1 mi (maybe there's a more ovious option somewhere, but I couldn't find it) until the trail became more obvious again as it neared the north side of the third lake. Here I was met with a junction, where I kept to the right in order to wrap around the west side of this lake. The trail was now very easy to follow again as it led toward the saddle separating Cache Peak from Mount Independence. Gaining elevation more steeply, this portion of trail led to the saddle above by using one big switchback to avoid cliffs on the slope.

The trail doesn't lead to the true saddle, instead about 200 feet above it. This meant to reach Cache Peak I had to drop first to the saddle. The views to the west were lovely, and included glimpses of City of Rocks National Preserve far below. Shortly after reaching the saddle, the Independence Lakes Trail leads west and away from the ridge (leading to the alternative Cache Peak start that others use), marking the spot I'd begin bushwhacking to Cache Peak. Fortunately the peak's west slope wasn't all that brushy, but I did have to get creative with avoiding patches of boulders and/or forest, instead sticking to ample portions of small open meadow. I probably went through a few Class 2 boudler-hoppy sections, but they were short-lived and not tedious. The views from Cache Peak's summit were nice, distant large humps and flat surrounding valleys below, plus the interesting-looking City of Rocks that I'd like to check out someday.

I backtracked to where the Independence Lakes Trail would return to the lakes below, but decided to hike Mount Independence since it was so close, despite my aches. Light Class 2 boulder-hopping on brightly colored rock led along the rim to the summit, which had great views of the Independence Lakes and toward Cache Peak.