The best walks and hikes in the Cooper Mountains

Bald Peak is a small subpeak to the north of Jarbidge Mountain across an open, talus-covered ridge. The summit of Bald Peak is 10,525 feet above sea level and is the northernmost peak on the difficult Jarbidge Traverse.

Jarbidge Peak stands at 10,799 feet and is the second highest mountain in the Jarbidge Mountain Range after the Matterhorn. This rocky, open summit provides excellent panoramic views of the surrounding area, but especially across the dry, exposed ridge toward the Matterhorn and the other lesser summits that comprise the Jarbidge Mountains. This summit is an excellent goal in and of itself, but is also a great place to rest, sip some water, eat some food, and sign the summit register before continuing onward to the surrounding peaks across the ridge line if attempting the Jarbidge Traverse. Please be aware that the Jarbidge Traverse is a serious endeavor. You are above tree line for the entire ridge line traveling on exposed terrain on trails that might be faint to non-existent at times. Please use good judgement about your own ability and comfort-levels before attempting Jarbidge Peak and the others along the traverse.

Emerald Lake is a high alpine lake in the Jarbidge Wilderness. This beautiful, remote lake sits in a large bowl beneath Government and Cougar Peaks. This is a great, seldom-visited spot to take photos and rest before continuing on your hike.

Just under 2 miles from Pine Creek Campground (where the trailhead is located), you pass a wooden sign indicating that you have crossed into the Jarbidge Wilderness Area. This is also a nice, open spot to sip some water and take some photos in an open meadow by the Jarbidge river.

After climbing steeply you reach an exposed saddle between Prospect and Cougar Peaks, which grants you stunning views of both mountains and the surrounding area. There are spur trails from this saddle that take you to the summits of Prospect and Cougar Peaks if you wish to tag either or both of them.

When traveling on Cougar Creek Trail you pass through a thick grove of large aspen trees. Although they look like individual trees, they are actually one large organism; the trees are all connected via an underground root system. Aspens groves are actually some of the largest single organisms on earth! In the fall their leaves turn from a bright green to deep shades of yellow and orange. This aspen grove is a wonderful, shaded place rest, take photographs, and enjoy these amazing trees on your hike.

The Jarbidge River Trail is one of the more popular trails in the Jarbidge Mountains and takes you to Jarbidge Lake. It is also a great way to access other trails in the area such as the Mary's River and the Emerald Basin Trails. It follows the Jarbidge River and takes you through fields of wildflowers and stands of pine trees watered by the river in this otherwise very dry mountain range. As you hike through the long, scenic valley you will pass several avalanche paths where you might need to scramble up and over some downed trees.

After climbing several steep switchbacks on the Jarbidge River Trail, you reach Jarbidge Lake, a small, circular lake in a beautiful glacier-carved cirque. Jarbridge Lake is the principal source of the Jarbidge River and is one of the few alpine lakes in this mountain range. It is a wonderful spot to rest and take photographs of your beautiful surroundings before either returning to the trailhead or continuing onward.