Here's a stiff climb to an old lookout site providing splendid viewing up deep, glacially cut valleys ringed by glacially carved summits. Enjoy an eagle's perspective of the West Fork Methow River, Early Winters Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, Robinson Creek, and Lost River valleys, pretty portals to rugged peaks and the Pasayten Wilderness. Melting out early, Driveway Butte makes a good spring high-country probe-great, too, for enjoying blooms. In May and June half the way bursts with showy yellow arrowleaf balsamroot.

Except during the autumn hunting season, expect to see few other two-legged trail users on this hike. Four-legged users, however, abound, especially deer. After late June when the balsamroot blossoms turn to seed, the butte is hot and dry. Carry plenty of water and sunscreen. Early season is best for a visit, but expect to encounter some snow midway; routefinding is easy if the skies are clear.

Begin with a very short stretch of level walking before heading up an old skid road. Through an open forest of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir, waste no time gaining elevation. At 0.5 mile the trail swings east to slab up a sunny southern slope. Thousands of sunflowers, as balsamroot is colloquially called in these parts, help brighten the way. The trail was once used to drive cattle to the butte's high meadows for range, hence this peak's name. There are no cattle left to rustle, but plenty of lizards rustle in the low brush.

Humming "Wichita Lineman," undulate between patches of forest and wide-open former rangeland, climbing steeply and gaining 1800 feet in 2 miles on one heck of a driveway. The way levels as it enters what was once dense forest, now burnt snags and feisty new undergrowth thanks to a large wildfire that swept through shortly after the millennium. Near a creek crossing (dry by midsummer) a faint path leads right 0.5 mile to a 5500-foot view-granting knoll, an option for a shorter saunter.

The main trail continues left through a matchstick forest, crossing-depending on the season-either a series of snowmelt streams or dry draws. At 3.25 miles (elev. 5500 ft) the trail turns right (northeast), emerging in meadows and parkland below the butte. The tread disappears, but the way is quite clear-head straight up the open south slopes of the butte, an occasional cairn providing a beacon.

At 4 miles crest the 5982-foot butte and reap your scenic rewards. To the north, 8726-foot Robinson Mountain dominates the horizon, and Lost River is fully revealed. Look east down the Methow Valley with Goat Peak hovering above. Giants Gardner and Silver Star draw your attention southward, while the Harts Pass high country piques your interest to the west. Grouse, chickadees, nutcrackers, and bluebirds provide the score for this stunning preview.