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Mountain Peaks in Idaho

39 mountain peaks in Idaho with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Custer County has the most (17). The darkest skies are at Borah Peak (Bortle 1).

Top mountain peaks

Borah PeakMountain Peak
Borah PeakCuster County · 3,855 m
Mount HeyburnMountain Peak
Mount HeyburnCuster County · 3,082 m
Bald MountainMountain Peak
Bald MountainBlaine County · 2,779 m
Bell MountainMountain Peak
Bell MountainButte County · 3,431 m
Big Southern ButteMountain Peak
Big Southern ButteButte County · 2,273 m
Ryan PeakMountain Peak
Ryan PeakCuster County · 3,561 m
Thompson PeakMountain Peak
Thompson PeakBoise County · 3,256 m
Castle PeakMountain Peak
Castle PeakCuster County · 3,601 m
Diamond PeakMountain Peak
Diamond PeakButte County · 3,634 m
El CapitanMountain Peak
El CapitanBlaine County · 3,001 m
Elk PeakMountain Peak
Elk PeakBoise County · 3,222 m
Glassford PeakMountain Peak
Glassford PeakCuster County · 3,522 m

Mountain Peaks by county

All mountain peaks (39)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Borah PeakCuster County3,855 mChallis1
Mount HeyburnCuster County3,082 mHailey1
Bald MountainBlaine County2,779 mKetchum3
Bell MountainButte County3,431 mHailey1
Big Southern ButteButte County2,273 mMoreland1
Ryan PeakCuster County3,561 mSun Valley1
Thompson PeakBoise County3,256 mHailey1
Castle PeakCuster County3,601 mSun Valley1
Diamond PeakButte County3,634 mRexburg1
El CapitanBlaine County3,001 mSun Valley1
Elk PeakBoise County3,222 mHailey1
Glassford PeakCuster County3,522 mSun Valley1
Leatherman PeakCuster County3,716 mHailey1
Menan ButtesMadison County1,594 mRigby3
Mount BreitenbachCuster County3,510 mHailey1
Mount HarrisonCassia County2,745 mBurley2
Mount JeffersonFremont County3,112 mWest Yellowstone1
Alpine PeakCuster County2,983 mHailey1
Baker PeakCamas County3,098 mKetchum2
Baron PeakBoise County3,072 mHailey1
Mount ReganBoise County3,083 mHailey1
Big PeakCamas County3,049 mKetchum1
Sevy PeakCuster County3,184 mHailey1
Smoky DomeCamas County3,059 mHailey2
Snowyside PeakBlaine County3,249 mSun Valley1
Blackmon PeakCuster County3,140 mSun Valley1
Cache PeakCassia County3,136 mBurley2
Standhope PeakCuster County3,616 mSun Valley1
Old Hyndman PeakBlaine County3,639 mSun Valley1
Parks PeakBlaine County3,077 mSun Valley1
Payette PeakBoise County3,101 mHailey1
Trinity MountainElmore County2,880 mMountain Home2
D. O. Lee PeakCuster County3,454 mSun Valley1
Decker PeakCuster County3,241 mHailey1
Cobb PeakBlaine County3,512 mSun Valley2
Watson PeakCuster County3,176 mChallis1
Williams PeakCuster County3,241 mHailey1
Donaldson PeakCuster County3,494 mHailey1
Grand MogulCuster County2,958 mHailey1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph mountain peaks

Summits catch first and last light — alpenglow can turn rock pink or orange minutes before sunrise and after sunset while valleys stay in shadow.

  • Photograph the peak from a lake, meadow or ridge at sunrise when the face that looks east lights up first.
  • Long lenses compress ridgelines; shoot the peak from several miles away to make it look massive.
  • Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer at high elevations — plan summit hikes for early morning.
  • Snow on the summit holds detail best when you expose for the highlights and lift shadows later.
  • Alpenglow lasts only a few minutes; set up and focus beforehand.

Season: Early summer keeps snow on the peaks with green valleys below; autumn adds aspen or larch color in many ranges.