{"id":5044,"date":"2023-11-01T10:29:34","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T10:29:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/?p=5044"},"modified":"2024-06-11T22:47:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T22:47:46","slug":"maxwell-butte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2023\/11\/01\/maxwell-butte\/","title":{"rendered":"Maxwell Butte"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>October 7, 2023<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve seen Maxwell Butte from a number of places over the years and have always wanted to hike up it. Today we did.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The trail starts out in lower elevation forest where fall color was underway:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53476716408_805819aaee_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53476996760_b1d8b5003a_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53475756572_82de185dfe_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509446384_3507ba5ce7_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509448044_52f3a46dbd_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509293763_6a96e6a5ef_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509295383_071d06798b_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509291998_b756442e65_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As we gained elevation we left the vine maple behind and any fall color we saw came from the huckleberry bushes:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509124526_9a9e3837a0_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The trail is pretty much a long straight shot eastward from the trailhead:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509444314_7ab6904953_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509456629_031a7e19cf_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At one point we passed a woman with her off-leash dog who came running out of nowhere to bark at us. The woman did not apologize for her dog startling us, which is par for the course with dog owners on trails. We reached the junction with the Lava Lakes Trail, which ends up at Duffy Lake in a few miles. We stayed straight:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509137521_6035a33b16_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There was a pond near the junction:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53508234412_d71e4612a1_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Ferns in fall color:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509138696_942135f839_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After gradual elevation gain we started gaining it more rapidly. The trail was in good shape throughout:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509137681_f961d819e0_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We started getting views to the south:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509196521_f6e28d0173_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509197141_3b02127305_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Almost there:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509364748_7955bb2c4d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The summit:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509364423_c3a8ec79cc_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53508246852_f7df308d4e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a mighty fine view of Mt. Jefferson up here. Notice Mt. Hood to the left:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509363358_6c9174fc3a_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509190581_7f30beb2a1_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That is Mowich Lake down below, at the foot of Red Butte:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509195656_c622d2ba31_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Duffy Lake, Mowich Lake, and Santiam Lake visible, with Mt. Jefferson on the horizon:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509359708_1ac1e64412_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mt. Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53508304197_6d32cbcb36_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Santiam Lake:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53508301932_f3f124707e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Black Butte in the distance:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509617285_64a8fb4918_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Coffin Mountain&#8217;s distinct shape, with Bachelor Mountain to the right:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509355328_e1a124e75b_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>To the south we could see Mt. Washington and the Three Sisters:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509617110_9db0b6ae5c_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There was once a fire lookout up here, an L-4 ground cabin that was built in 1933 and removed in 1965. A few old pieces of the woodstove and other detritus are strew about:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53508303567_897e2c567d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509360783_de67570362_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53508302412_17774697b6_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We sat on the summit for awhile enjoying the beautiful day and nice views:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509507799_c35e1ed626_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then we headed back. More fiery red colors:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509232071_a38ba9a1fe_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509231636_ff617bd2db_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53509231506_79f7af3dca_b.jpg\" alt=\"Maxwell Butte Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Nice to finally get this one checked off the list!<\/p>\n<p>Gaia stats: 9.6 miles, 2,450&#8242; elevation gain<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>October 7, 2023 I&#8217;ve seen Maxwell Butte from a number of places over the years and have always wanted to<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2023\/11\/01\/maxwell-butte\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Maxwell Butte<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5102,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[160,159,158],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mt-jefferson-wilderness","category-oregon","category-willamette-national-forest"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5044"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5160,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5044\/revisions\/5160"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}