Scramble Thompson Peak
Details
Distance
22.7 miles
Elevation Gain
6100 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Rachel Davidson
Summit the tallest mountain in the Trinity Alps, Thompson Peak (9,002 ft.), on this off-trail scrambling and route-finding adventure.
This adventure begins at the Canyon Creek Lakes in the Trinity Alps wilderness. Park at the Canyon Creek Trailhead near Junction City and hike the well-maintained and easy-to-follow trail for 8 miles. Once you reach the Canyon Creek Lakes, your off-trail adventure officially begins.
I’d recommend setting up camp for 1-2 nights as a base camp at the Upper Canyon Creek Lake, where you have the best close-up views of Thompson. Even if the mileage and elevation gain don’t intimidate you, plan on spending quite a bit of time route-finding and bushwhacking around the gullies leading up to the west ridge. While there are a few faint signs of a boot path, these are largely unreliable, and you should be comfortable with cross-country navigation before embarking on this adventure. Come prepared with a topo map, GPS device, and knowledge of backcountry travel.
Beginning from the Upper Canyon Creek Lake, you’ll follow the Canyon Creek Drainage through a lush meadow and onto a rocky boulderfield beneath the peak. Avoid the urge to gain elevation early on and stay low in this meadow, following the creek as it creeps north towards the south face of Thompson. You’ll have a few options of gully scrambles to reach the upper portion of the drainage and eventually the west ridge, to your left. When choosing your route, keep in mind that you should be performing moves no higher than class 2-3... if you find yourself in more challenging terrain, you’ve gone off the recommended route!
Though it looks intimidating from below, once you reach the top of the ridge it’s an easy walk to the base of the Thompson Peak summit block. Call it a day here, or if you’re a purist and absolutely need to tag the top, be prepared to perform a couple of class 4+/low class 5 moves to reach the summit plaques.
Soak in the views from the highpoint of the Trinity Alps, and allow yourself plenty of time and leisure navigating your way back down through the challenging terrain.
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Details
Distance
22.7 miles
Elevation Gain
6100 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.