Squaw Butte And Little Butte

Squaw Butte and Little Butte are the most prominent peaks in the Treasure Valley. Although Shaffer Butte (Bogus Basin Ski Area) and Lucky Peak... more

by Robert Bales

Title

Squaw Butte And Little Butte

Artist

Robert Bales

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

Squaw Butte and Little Butte are the most prominent peaks in the Treasure Valley. Although Shaffer Butte (Bogus Basin Ski Area) and Lucky Peak stand taller, Squaw is the most striking ridgeline if viewed from the south or east (viewed from the Boise area). The Squaw Butte Ridge is about 8 miles long, runs generally north to south, and has a steep eastern front that rises from about 2500 feet near Sweet and Ola, Idaho to 5500-5800 along the top of the ridge. If viewed from the south or east, it appears that the Squaw Butte ridge is a separate or island-like mountain. In actuality, it's an extension of the Boise Mountains that juts south from the main area of most peaks. The peak is chock full of igneous, or volcanic rock cliffs and boulders. This is unique to this vicinity, as many of the nearby peaks to the east contain granite based rock outcroppings.
Squaw Butte provides the hiker or scrambler with many varied and interesting routes. Generally, the routes from the west offer more gentle approaches via jeep roads from near Emmett, Idaho. There are no roads up the eastern side because of the steepness and this is the preferred approach for those seeking solitude and a challenging scramble. The peaks impressive Southeast Rib is full of Class 3-4 rock towers and even the open slopes in the winter offer steep and fun snow-shoeing. The summit ridge is long and contains 7 radio towers near the service road's end, along with a fire lookout tower. North of the lookout summit is another point which is actually the high point at 5894, yet on the USGS map the area south of the fire lookout is marked as Squaw Butte. This might be because this section of the Squaw Ridge, if viewed from the east, is the most impressive with sheer rock cliffs and steep, open slopes.

Uploaded

June 10th, 2015