Miles: 5+ miles possible, including the 3.5 mile Pine Ridge-West End Primitive Trail loop
Elevation Gain/Highest: 830ft/3640ft
Map: County Park Map, Caltopo
Favorite Eats After Hike: I’d be lying if I didn’t say you have to go have some fries at Cougar Country Drive-In, but if you want something healthy you can find a nice salad at Paradise Creek Brewery or Pack A Cooler. GO COUGS!!
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
Hike details:
Kamiak Butte County Park rises out of the Palouse farmland on 298 acres that provide expansive views of the surrounding rolling wheat fields and The butte is considered a National Natural Landmark and the Pine Ridge Trail is registered as a National Recreation Trail. The butte is named for Chief Kamiakin of the Yakama Tribe who organized alliances with 14 other tribes and leaders, and led the Yakima War of 1855–1858 in attempts to defend this area from settler invasion.
There are lower and upper parking lots: the Pine Ridge Trail starts in the lower making a loop on the butte and summit while the West End Trail begins in the upper lot leading to the Backside Trail that offers a steeper more direct route to the summit. The trails are well maintained and there are multiple benches to stop and catch your breath as you gaze out at the rippling terrain before you, whether winter white or tawny waves of grain.
My trip report:
2/17/2021
Road tripping back from snowshoeing in southeastern Washington, I passed through my alma mater and took an afternoon stroll up to the top of Kamiak Butte to the Vista for views of the snow covered wheat fields.
The road in the county park was snow covered but plowed enough to not be an issue in 2W Drive. I parked in the lower lot around 3pm and opted to just go up to the Vista rather than the loop due to all the signs about the park closing at dusk.
The Pine Ridge Trail was wide and the snow was pocked and compact with the shoe prints of the day’s traffic. One could have snowshoed on the side of the trail if they wanted to but I just had boots for this quick jaunt.
It was about a half mile of gentle switchbacks up to the top and I followed the trail to the private property boundary on the right about a tenth of a mile. I could see for miles across the Palouse farmland, dotted with tiny red barns and spiny windmills rising up from the white layers of rolling fields.
I hope to return later this year for the summit!
Directions, from the county park website:
- Take State Highway 27 North 11 miles.
- Turn left on Clear Creek Road for 0.5 mile.
- Turn left on Fugate Road (Road 5100).
- Travel 0.5 mile to Kamiak Butte County Park Road (Road 6710) to the park entrance on the left.
- Take State Highway 272 (Palouse Highway) east for 5 miles.
- Turn right onto Clear Creek Road for 7 miles.
- Take a sharp right onto Fugate Road (Road 5100).
- Travel 0.5 mile to Kamiak Butte County Park Road (Road 6710) to the park entrance on the left.
No pass is needed.
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