Gold Butte Lookout
Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- 2.5 mi
- round trip
- 1,204 ft
- climb
- 4,599 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Gold Butte Lookout open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Gold Butte Lookout, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Beachie Creek and Lionshead Fires Closure
Agency closure covering Detroit Ranger District · Order 06-18-04-26-14 · USFS · Detroit Ranger District
Cedar Creek Fire Closure
Agency closure covering Willamette National Forest · Order 06-18-10-26-04 · USFS · Willamette National Forest
FIRE CLOSURES: Current wildfire closures on the Willamette National Forest
Agency alert covering Willamette National Forest · USFS · Willamette National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Detroit Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Gold Butte Lookout is a 2.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Detroit Ranger District of Oregon's Willamette National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from about 3,800 feet to a high point near 4,600 feet, with a total climb of about 1,200 feet, and is rated moderate. The steepest stretch comes around mile 1.1, where the grade reaches about 22 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach about 76°F with lows near 42°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction. That station sits roughly 800 feet lower than the summit, so temperatures at the top run cooler. The trail is open from June 1 through October 31, and the trip takes about 1.5 hours. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface route. Nearby, Humbug Creek and East Humbug Creek offer paddling within about 2 miles. Elk Lake Campground and Battle Ax Mountain lie a little farther out.
Local outfitters
- Horseback Riding Adventures Oregon34 mi away
- Tree Climbing at Silver Falls35 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Gold Butte Lookout
Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
38° / 24°
Feb
41° / 24°
Mar
44° / 26°
Apr
49° / 29°
May
58° / 35°
Jun
65° / 38°
Jul
76° / 42°
Aug
76° / 42°
Sep
69° / 39°
Oct
56° / 33°
Nov
42° / 28°
Dec
36° / 23°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santiam Junction, OR, 27.4 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Route details
- Distance
- 2.5 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 1,204 ft
- Summit
- 4,614 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- About 1.5 hours
Questions about this route
How long is the Gold Butte Lookout on Gold Butte?
About 2.5 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Gold Butte Lookout?
About 1,204 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Gold Butte Lookout?
It is rated moderate.
How long does the Gold Butte Lookout take?
About 1.5 hours round trip.
Conditions and forecast on Gold Butte
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
