Mount Misery, Oregon Butte & Mount Misery Loop — Friday, Jul. 3, 2020

Included the reference to the Mount Misery Loop hike as that's the trailhead we started from by Diamond Peak. We only did the out-and-back to Oregon Butte.

The last 5 miles of the road is a bit rough and narrow; high clearance practically necessary, but a carefully driven sedan might be okay. We didn't see any other car at that trailhead, and there's very little parking space that would still allow for a turnround.

We hiked steeply but briefly from the TH to the ridge next to Diamond Peak and followed it NW-W for several miles, planning to camp overnight at Clover or Dunlap Springs/Indian Corral. Trail is fine, but there are over 50 blowdowns that you need to step over or around between the trailhead and Clover Springs. None are difficult.

This trail is viable when the springs are still flowing. I don't know how long into summer they all run, but Squaw and Clover Springs were flowing well and seemed like they'd run well into summer if not season-long. But don't take my word on it. Once you're out there, be mindful of your water situation.

We had great weather, and settled in at Clover Spring camp for two nights. Each night we had one other site that was occupied; there are about 3-4 good campsites here. Of all the sites near springs, this one seemed to have the best of everything -- room to spread out, great ridge views where we could see Oregon Butte from camp, and even a couple of elk that wandered below camp.

Next morning we headed out for our out-and-back to Oregon Butte, about a 15 mile r/t with some side hikes to refill water and cool off the dogs. Temps were in the low 70's -- if it was midsummer the dogs might have more stressed with all the sun exposure and rare water breaks. Most of the hike follows a sometimes faint trail along the high ridge, full of flowers and expansive views, dipping into and up out of meadows and forest. We refilled water at Dunlap Springs, and then again at trickling Emergency Spring before the last push to Oregon Butte. 

The lookout was locked and unmanned on the sunny day. A couple of camps just below the lookout get more traffic than along the Misery trail, as the Butte is closer to the Teepee trailhead than Diamond Peak and those camps offer great views. We ate our lunch and turned around and hiked back to Clover Spring camp, all pretty weary from our longest dayhike since emerging from the pandemic, plus all at about 6,000ft.

Over the three day holiday weekend saw about 18 people. We logged about 25 miles total.