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Black Butte

Camp Sherman, Oregon

4.5/5
based on 8 reviews

Details

Distance

3.94 miles

Elevation Gain

1493 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Jeffrey Green

Stunning Views. Great Hiking Exercise. Gorgeous Photography. 4 mile out-and-back hike. Elevation Gain: 1,555 feet. Summit Elevation: 6,436 feet. Summit GPS Grid Coordinates: 44°23′59″N 121°38′08″W

Just outside of Sisters Oregon is the stunning and popular day hike to the summit Black Butte (Elevation 6,436 feet). At the top, spectacular views of the surrounding Cascades await the intrepid hiker.

To get to the trailhead, turn off of Highway 22 onto National Forest Road (NFR) 11, also known as Green Ridge Road. NFR 11 is 5.5 miles west of Sisters and 2.5 miles east of Black Butte Ranch. Follow NFR 11 north for about 4 miles and then turn left onto Forest Road (FR) 1110, which is a gravel road. Go about 5 miles to a graved parking area at the end of the road. This is the location of the marked Black Butte Trailhead. This is a day use area that requires a $5 paid fee at the trailhead or a displayed Northwest Forest Pass in your vehicle.

The 2 mile hike to the summit of Black Butte is on a well traveled hiking trail. The grade of the trail is not too steep and surprisingly the number of switchbacks is low. Early on you’ll be hiking through a forested area dominated by ponderosa pine. As you get closer to the summit, the forest disperses and alpine vegetation takes over. Wildflowers can be abundant in the right season.

Once at the top, there are a number of interesting structures to check out. In the center is a 62 foot tall fire lookout tower. To the west is two separate fire lookout cabins. The first one is an old D-6 Cupola that was built in 1923 and is currently boarded up. The second cabin was built in 1980 is still used during the fire season. All structures are off limits to visitors, but are gorgeous to check out and photograph.

Volcanoes that can be seen from the summit include Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, North Sister, Middle Sister, South Sister, Broken Top, Mount Jefferson, and Mt. Hood on a very clear day! Additionally, you can catch a glimpse of the stunning Metolius River, which springs to life at the northeastern base of Black Butte.

Be advised that there is no camping allowed on the hiking trail. However, backpack style camping is allowed at the summit. Please don’t interfere with fire lookout operations and pack out all trash. Additionally, lingering snow near the summit may be present until mid-late May.

Overall, I would highly recommend Black Butte as a wonderful day hike. You won’t be disappointed as the spectacular views are well worth the effort. While this hike is categorized as intermediate, kids with hiking experience could make the trip. As always, pack standard hiking essentials and drink plenty of water. Supplies, food, and drinks are available in the nearby town of Sisters, OR a few miles to the east.

Happy trails!

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Features

Fitness
Camping
Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Scenic
Wildflowers

Black Butte Reviews

The abandoned lodge is fun to see and the hike isn’t too hard

This is a fairly short but steep hike with great views on a clear day.

This is fantastic hike but it's one of my least favorite hikes in the area. You get panoramic views of 6 peaks which was super rad but I didn't like the drier ecosystem and the vantage point from the lookout is pretty far from the mountains. Still a great hike, but I prefer Tumalo Mountain.

We hiked in late November. There was little to no snow. Fun scenic hike, uphill climb, two hours round trip, rewarding views of all the mountains at the top and the historic building fire lookouts from the 1920s.

What a great hike! We found snow and pushed on to the summit! So worth it! You'll be tied when you're done but the view is so worth it!

This hike really does start halfway up the mountain, which is why it's so great for young kids and less-than-fit folks. For a bigger challenge, you can start at the base of the mountain in Camp Sherman and hike all its glorious 3200 feet! And double the mileage, too.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Fly Fishing the Metolius

Run the Suttle Lake Loop

Explore Skylight Cave

Winter Camp on Cache Mountain

Hike the West Metolius River Trail

The Sisters to Smith Rock Ride