Trail Overview
Sierra Buttes Trail climbs up to the second trailhead parking area from Monarch Spur and then continues to the Sierra Buttes Lookout Tower. Before continuing past the trailhead parking area located .5 miles above the transition from Monarch Road to the start of the trail, it is important to consider that there is only room for a couple of vehicles at the tower itself, little room to turn around, and a gate midway up the single-lane climb that can be closed and locked without warning. At the gate, there is signage prohibiting OHV vehicles. The drive begins by weaving through a gorgeous, dense alpine forest filled with towering pine trees draped in vibrant moss. In these lower wooded sections, the dirt track is a winding single lane with uneven surfaces, exposed tree roots, and scattered rocks. A high clearance vehicle with good articulation is helpful here. As you climb higher and emerge from the tree line, the landscape transforms drastically. The trail becomes a steep, tight exposed shelf road carved directly into a craggy mountainside, offering sweeping, panoramic views of the surrounding valleys. There is no room to pass oncoming or parked vehicles along this section. Looking up, you will spot the iconic fire lookout tower perched precariously on the jagged peak. The observation tower is boarded up, but you can still climb up the steep stairs to the tower platform. The views of the lakes below and the surrounding region are incredible from up at the tower.
Difficulty
If you are piloting a standard low-clearance all-wheel-drive vehicle, this trail will demand your full attention and patience. While your traction system will handle the dirt just fine, your primary enemy here is ground clearance. A high clearance vehicle with good suspension articulation is helpful on this trail. The upper exposed sections of the trail feature several steep, sustained climbs that are heavily littered with significant, medium-to-large chunks of loose, jagged rock and shale. These rocky obstacles make the surface incredibly bumpy and uneven. To avoid scraping your undercarriage or damaging your bumpers, you must keep your speed very low, smoothly modulate your throttle, and carefully pick a driving line that keeps your tires on top of the largest rocks rather than letting them pass underneath your vehicle. Remember, there is little room to park at the base of the tower, and no room to pass once above the first switchback. It's best to park at the parking area and hike up the .5 mile trail.
