She Devil (Seven Devils Wilderness)
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Elevation: 9,386 feet
Hiking Distance: 3.5 miles one way
Elevation Gain: 3,764 feet
Prominence: 5,186 feet
This is the highest point in the Seven Devils Wilderness and one of a grouping of jagged peaks that can be seen from miles around. The mountains rise above Hells Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America. He and She Devil rise over 8,000 feet from the canyon bottom, which is out of view from the summit. For She Devil, there are several climbing possibilities but one route is considerably faster and more interesting.
Access:
From Riggins, go south on Highway 95 for 1.3 miles to Seven Devils Road (becomes Forest Road 517). Turn right on Seven Devils Road and go 16.5 miles to the Windy Saddle Trailhead. Forest Road 517 is steep and sometimes rough or slick when wet. Low clearance vehicles are not recommended but you will often see them up at Windy Saddle.
Route:
Most park at the trailhead parking at Windy Saddle before dropping down to the Seven Devils Campground. Walk the road down to Seven Devils Campground staring at the headwall and wondering how a trail sneaks through the cliffs. At the campground, the Goat Pass trail is unsigned that climbs to the ridge above the basin. Look for the start of the trail between some campsites. Once on the ridge, a nice climbers trail continues traversing above Mirror Lake to another saddle. From this saddle, you can choose to take the upper ridge route or the lower Sheep Lake route. Doing the ridge route, a few minor trails traverse the slopes heading to the last saddle before hitting the Tower of Babel. Once at the Tower of Babel saddle, you have to drop down a hundred plus feet, traversing below cliffs, then climbing a large ledge system up to the south ridge of Tower of Babel. Easy traverse trails and ridge walks will take you under Mount Baal and to the east ridge of She Devil. Finally, hike up the north side of the East Ridge of She Devil. Most of the way is on an upward traversing climbers trail, just below the ridge crest.
Road down to campground from Windy Saddle
Trailhead sign at Windy Saddle
Looking back on trail to Goat Pass
Goat Pass Trail
Mirror Lake with The Gobblin on the left and The Ogre on the right
Mirror Lake with the Tower of Babel above
Tower of Babel from She Devil summit
Tower of Babel and the route up the large ramp
He Devil from She Devil
Looking East from the summit
North end of the Seven Devils Wilderness
She Devil from the summit of Mount Baal
Final few hundred feet up She Devil
Route traversing around Mount Baal
Route from the north saddle at Tower of Babel
Sheep Lake
In route to She Devil