Black Butte Trail

Approach

See the information about the approach contained on the front page.

Route Description

If you hike from the road due to snow or impassable conditions, it is a 4 mile hike with 900 feet of elevation gain. Early in the season there may still be snow on the trail but common sense will help you to find the top. Normally you will be able to drive about a mile up the somewhat rough road to a turnaround loop. Park here and take the left side of the road as it passes through the loop and becomes a trail. A good trail takes you right up to the summit ridge and from the trailhead to the summit, it is only one mile and less than 600 feet of elevation gain. Allow two hours round trip in normal hiking weather.

Essential Gear

Warm weather will bring out the need for sunscreen and adequate water. Mosquitoes are a pest early in the season but since this area is very dry, they diminish fairly early in the summer. Before June, extra heavy snow years could necessitate snowshoes but that is pure speculation on my part. Check with the forest service in Willows if you have any quesitons.

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Here's some truly miscellaneous info. Black Butte was the first peak my wife ever did that actually felt like a lofty summit to her. She could actually get a feeling for why I like to climb (or hike) anything that looks like a mountain. But her most telling comment was:
"Seems like a lot of work to hike up and then just have to turn around and hike back down" I guess many people wonder about that aspect of our sport.