SMITH PEAK

SMITH PEAK   7,653 (Class 3)
Smith Peak is among the remotest of the Selkirk peaks. The peak’s 800 foot north face is one of the steepest in the Selkirks. </em

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Map: USGS Smith Peak

Smith Creek access (shortest)
Drive: East side access to the Selkirk Range is from US-2/US-95, that runs from Sandpoint north to the Canadian border. Many access roads stay on the west side of the Kootenai River..
0.0 US-1 at Porthill on the Canadian/US border. Follow west along the border and then south
4.0 m Turn west up Smith Creek Road.
11.0 m South fork of Smith Cr Rd
12.5 m Left fork (right fork ends in 4 more miles to end west of Smith Peak
16.5 m Parking area
Route/Trail: From Smith Creek, climb to the northwest ridge and then climb directly to the summit.

Long Canyon access. The longest approach. Long Canyon is the best example of primeval Selkirk wilderness still remaining.
Drive: Primary access to the eastern side of the Selkirk Range is from US-2/US-95, which runs rom Sandpoint north to the Canadian Border. The good secondary roads stay on the west side of the Kootenai River.
0.0 Take ID-1 north form its junction with US-95
1.0 m Copeland turn. Drive through Copeland and cross the Kootenai River. Continue on the West Side Road and then turn north.
Drive another 6.7 m north to the trailhead.
Route: FST-16, Long Canyon Trail. The trail is well maintained (partly due to volunteer efforts) and covers such spectacular scenery that it is recommended no matter how far one must drive to see it. FST-16 follows Long Canyon to Long Canyon Pass, a 12.0-mile trip.
Backpack up Long Canyon to the point where the outlet from Smith Lake empties into Long Canyon Creek and follow the drainage up to the lake. Above the lake is a steep granite wall that must be bypassed by climbing Point 7303. Once on the ridge-line, follow the ridge south and then southeast to the summit.