Backpack the Bighorn Crags

The Bighorn Crags are a fantastic grouping of granite peaks and alpine lakes in central Idaho. They are also the crown jewel of the huge Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness, which is the largest contiguous wilderness in the lower 48. The area is almost a secret because of the time it takes just to get to the trailhead. That is one reason to go though. The remote location is about 3 hours on dirt roads from Salmon, Idaho. 4WD and high clearance is recommended because some of the roads aren't as well maintained. 

Your starting point will be at the Bighorn Crags Campground. From there you can select different routes to take but you'll definitely want to hit up some of the iconic lakes and ridges while there, like Ship Island Lake (about 11 miles from the trailhead) or Terrace Lakes (about 7 miles from the trailhead). The iconic Fishfin ridge is a gorgeous view that you'll pass by on the way to Ship Island Lake. Make sure to bring your fishing pole because there are a lot of lake trout.