Trail Overview

This route begins on the west side of Highway 395, located two miles south of the June Lake Scenic Loop South entrance. The sandy and pumice trail winds through a large pine forest that has recently undergone forest trimming with planned fires to reduce the underbrush. The trail is part of the Hartley Loop system and climbs over 250 feet while dropping under 20 feet in just under two miles before ending at Forest Service Road 2S22C.

Photos of Wilson Butte Loop FS 2S22

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Difficulty

The trail features lots of ruts especially on hard corners, is very sandy in some areas requiring 4x4 highly recommended and good tires as a must, and is a very dusty trail.

History

Wilson Butte's name is associated with a cave containing evidence of mammoth presence around 12,000 years ago, not with a volcanic butte itself. This significant archaeological site in Idaho features ancient lava formations and provided valuable insights into early human activity in North America, revealing the use of the cave by native peoples for bison hunting and as a shelter during the Ice Age.

Technical Rating