Information about this hike provided in partnership with Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books

Crofton Butte

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Featured In: Day Hiking: South Cascades, by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer.
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Rolling along the lower slope of Mount
Adams, this trail offers mountain views and, during the early season, a forest floor carpeted with lush clumps of beargrass with bulbous white flowers. Though much of the trail is under the old fir and pine forest
canopy, there are enough breaks and clearings to keep Mount Adams fre-quently in view. The best panoramas of the peak are found from the saddle between 5272-foot Crofton Butte and its little sibling to the south, Lower Butte (4870 feet)

The trail heads north from Spur Road 8031-050 for 0.5 mile, crossing over into the Mount Adams Wilderness before curving east to climb gradually toward Crofton Butte. The trail climbs to 4800 feet as it squeezes between the dual cones of Crofton and Lower Buttes.

As you skirt out along the southern flank of Crofton, the trail moves out onto the bluff overlooking Crofton Creek at 2 miles. Stop and enjoy the views here, looking up at Adams, down onto the Crofton Creek valley, and out across the expanse of the lava beds littering the southern flank of Mount Adams. Turn around here after you've had your fill.

Driving Directions:

From Trout Lake, drive about 8.5 miles north on Forest Road 23 and turn right (east) onto FR 8031. Continue 1.4 miles on FR 8031 to Spur Road 8031-050. Turn left and drive about 2 miles to the trailhead on the left (at 4200 feet).