Black Butte would be far more prominent if it weren’t dwarfed by Mount Shasta hulking two miles to the east. I still love it and climb it once a year, and last week the snow finally melted off the north side.
Last year I wrote a post with an excerpt from one of my hiking guidebooks about hiking the Black Butte Trail:
The Black Butte Trail is Hike 45 from 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California, third edition. I discuss the same route in Hike 63 of 75 Hikes in California’s Mount Shasta and Lassen Volcanic National Park Regions, revised edition. Download the Black Butte Trail PDF file for reference.
Many people gave me some great advice on buying a new hiking/trail camera; I eventually went with the Canon PowerShot SX210IS. I’ll have a lot more to say about the camera in a future post.
But for now here are some of my first pictures…
Mount Shasta from the Black Butte Trail. (Photo by John Soares)
Talus on the upper portion of the Black Butte Trail. (Photo by John Soares)
White fir trees on Black Butte's flanks. (Photo by John Soares)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Great timing posting this hike John, my daughter has asked for me to take her up Black Butte weekend after next. We spent this past weekend on the Squaw Valley Creek Trail, and after our stop in Mt Shasta yesterday, this hike is all she could talk about.
Thank you!
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Janette, I’m glad this post is useful for you, and that you also made it to Squaw Valley Creek.
Enjoy Black Butte!
Nice post, I had forgotten all about this one – often driven by and wondered about hiking it, but it’s always when we’re on our way ‘somewhere else’, or it’s the middle of winter. One of these times I think it would be a good way to break up the drive to Lava Beds.
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Rebecca, Black Butte is great hike in late spring when there’s still snow at higher elevations, and also in the fall.
Not sure how you get to Lava Beds, but I suggest from Mount Shasta that you take Highway 89 via Medicine Lake and go through the back country.
I am from McCloud, about 15 miles away and it took me and my best friend
almost 60 years to finally get up the courage to climb Black Butte. We climbed it in October, 2008. It was cold and windy, but a beautiful climb, perhaps the most beautiful climb in the world. My friend died the following year but climbing Black Butte was one of his fondest memories and all time best feats. There have been some nasty rockslides across the trail near the top so it is not an easy climb. I strongly recommend this hike to anyone and I would strongly advise them to put it near the top of their bucket list.
Richard Everett
San Marcos, Ca.
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Richard, I’m so glad you and your best friend made the climb. Black Butte does offer incredible views, but it definitely takes significant effort to get to the top.
I think Black Butte is a worthy addition to anyone’s bucket list.
Glad to see this trail featured. My children and I have climbed this trail several times over the past 25 years. It is a perfect day trip for anyone. Children feel especially proud after climbing it because they feel they have conquered a mountain!
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Amy, it is a great hike that kids love. I know local schools do it as a field trip. It takes a lot of work to get to the top, but it’s definitely doable.
I hiked Black Butte just last weekend (15 OCT 11) after wanting to do so for the last 20+ years. Not sure why I waited so long! I lived in Yreka as a kid, and always wondered about climbing the mean-looking pointy cone right next to Shasta that I often saw from I-5. But alas, as others have said, I was always on my way somewhere else. I planned a weekend trip with my father, and brother who lives in Oregon to finally conquer the surreal looking Black Butte.
I’m a novice hiker, and about 50 lbs. overweight to boot, but I managed the ascent in a very leisurely and enjoyable 3 hours. There were a couple spots near the summit where the trail starts switchbacking and it begins to feel quite precarious. You go from a well-groomed trail to a “goat trail” in a few spots. You have to be extremely mindful of your footing in these areas, and on a few occasions, I found myself clutching onto rocks on the inboard side of the trail as I negotiated these tight spots. I have what I would consider a “reasonable” or “healthy” fear of heights, and was spooked only once when I looked over the edge.
The weather was unseasonably warm and pleasant. Wind at the summit was very mild, with an occasional gust. A hat, or suncreen is a must (as my cherry-red and soon to be peeling forehead will attest). I saw some of the best, cloud-free views of Shasta that I’ve ever seen. The view of the valley to the north was breathtaking as well. Don’t just pass Black Butte on the freeway, visit the top! You won’t be disappointed!
Finally, another childhood dream come true!
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Jason, I’m glad you made it to the top: it’s not easy!
And autumn can be the best time to climb, as long as you pick one of the balmy days, which you did.