Maxwell Butte
Hike details:
Mileage: 9.75 miles round trip w/ 2,515 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 4 hours 15 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail usage: Low
Highest elevation: 6,180 ft. Lowest elevation: 3,755 ft.
General location: 28 miles northwest of Sisters - Mount Jefferson Wilderness - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: Late June through November
(Best time to go is early to mid-October for prime fall foliage)
Permits required: Day trips - Free self issue wilderness permit June 15 - October 15 available at the trailhead
Overnight trips - Central Cascades Wilderness Permit June 15 - October 15 available via recreation.gov
Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Sno-park pass is required from November 1 - April 30
Pit toilet at trailhead: No (but there is a pit toilet at the Maxwell Butte sno-park)
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Possible dangers: Hunters during the fall months - make sure to wear bright colors and keep your dog on a leash!
Approximate hike time: 4 hours 15 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail usage: Low
Highest elevation: 6,180 ft. Lowest elevation: 3,755 ft.
General location: 28 miles northwest of Sisters - Mount Jefferson Wilderness - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: Late June through November
(Best time to go is early to mid-October for prime fall foliage)
Permits required: Day trips - Free self issue wilderness permit June 15 - October 15 available at the trailhead
Overnight trips - Central Cascades Wilderness Permit June 15 - October 15 available via recreation.gov
Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Sno-park pass is required from November 1 - April 30
Pit toilet at trailhead: No (but there is a pit toilet at the Maxwell Butte sno-park)
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Possible dangers: Hunters during the fall months - make sure to wear bright colors and keep your dog on a leash!
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Description:Maxwell Butte is one of the best view-laden hikes in the Santiam Pass area and it is most definitely worth the climb! There is only room for 3-4 cars at the official Maxwell Butte trailhead so if there is no space you can park on the side of the gravel road, or you can park at the Maxwell Butte Sno-Park and walk 0.25 miles to the trailhead.
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You will take Maxwell Butte Trail #3391 through a beautiful forest, where in October the vine maples turn a rainbow of yellows, oranges and deep reds. At the first trail junction after 0.5 miles you will stay to the left. The only sign you will see here is about 15 feet up on a pole because it is an indicator used for snow sports like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. But when there is no snow you cannot read it. The trail trends uphill a bit, and 0.65 miles after the first junction you will see another trail junction where you will continue on the Maxwell Butte Trail to the right and continue on to Twin Lakes.
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(Twin Lakes and Maxwell Butte)
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At the 2.1 mile mark you will come to another trail junction, this one is well marked for hikers. The Lava Lakes Trail #3433 goes to the left and continues on to Train Lake and after 3 miles eventually arrives at Duffy Lake. (This could be a great way to circumvent the limited entry day use permits needed if you were to visit Duffy Lake from the Duffy Lake Trailhead). Stay on the Maxwell Butte Trail #3391 and shortly after the junction, you will pass Twin Lakes with Maxwell Butte looming in the distance. From here you will start to steadily climb uphill and you will get some amazing views of Mount Washington, the Three Sisters, Hoodoo and Hayrick Butte, with Santiam Highway winding between the hills down below.
(viewpoint from the trail - Highway 20, Hayrick Butte, Black Crater, Mount Washington, Three Sisters)
After a total of 6 switchbacks you will arrive at the top of Maxwell Butte. There is a flat area where in 1965 a fire lookout cabin was taken down. To the northeast you will see Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Duffy and Mowich Lakes amidst the silver trees of the 2002 Mount Marion wildfire. To the east you will have a head-on view of Three Fingered Jack, Berley Lakes and Black Butte. Towards the southeast you will see Mount Washington, the Three Sisters, Broken Top, Black Crater and Hoodoo. To the south on a very clear day you can see Diamond Peak past Sand Mountain (which has a wonderful fire lookout on the top). These views are unbeatable, and if you come in the fall the mountains will likely have a dusting of snow on them already.
(Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Duffy Lake, Mowich Lake, Red Butte)
(Three Fingered Jack)
(Berley Lakes and Black Butte from Maxwell Butte summit)
(Highway 20, Hoodoo, Hayrick Butte, Mount Washington, Black Crater, Three Sisters, Broken Top)
(Sand Mountain & Diamond Peak from Maxwell Butte summit)
The hike up to the summit of Maxwell Butte is on the more difficult side just because parts of it are not always well maintained and there is a section that is pretty steep. If you are up for the mileage and elevation gain, this will be a very rewarding hike full of views and solitude. This is the perfect hike to do in mid-October when the fall foliage is at its prime and there might even be a beautiful dusting of snow on the nearby mountains.
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Directions:
From Bend
- Drive on US-97 north then follow signs for US-20 towards Sisters. Past Sisters continue driving on US-20 for 45 miles to Santiam Junction then turn right onto OR-22 for 2.8 miles and turn right at a sign for Maxwell Butte Sno Park. You will follow the road at the end of the parking area to the Maxwell Butte Trailhead on your left. There is only room for about 3 cars here. (Total of 51.9 miles)
- Drive east on OR-22 towards Bend for 77.4 miles then turn left at a sign for Maxwell Butte Sno Park. You will follow the road at the end of the parking area to the Maxwell Butte Trailhead on your left. There is only room for about 3 cars here. (Total of 81 miles)
- Drive OR-126 east towards Bend then merge onto US-20 towards Sisters. Turn left onto OR-22 for 2.8 miles. Turn right at a sign for Maxwell Butte Sno Park. You will follow the road at the end of the parking area to the Maxwell Butte Trailhead on your left. There is only room for about 3 cars here. (Total of 82.8 miles)
- It is a total of 126 miles via Salem.
- It is a total of 246 miles via Eugene.
-This trail write-up was last updated November 2021-
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: The trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.