Black Butte Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Views

Black Butte is a 6,334-foot tall dacite lava dome at the foot of Mt. Shasta. This trail leads you up to the top offering spectacular views of Mt. Shasta, Shastina, the Eddy Range, and Shasta Valley.

To reach the trailhead, follow Forest Route 41N18 from Everitt Memorial Highway.

The trail starts on the northeast side of the butte and ascends steadily towards the top. Most of the trail is very rough and rocky. The forest quickly opens up to views of Shasta Valley and the mountains in Southern Oregon.

At 1.3 miles, the trail makes a sharp left turn and ascends a very rocky slope. There is another sharp right turn at 2.0 miles. For the last stretch, the trail zigzags up to the top where you have a panoramic view of the entire area.

There is a concrete foundation at the very top that was once a United States Forest Service fire lookout tower. It was originally built in the 1930s, but destroyed during the Columbus Day Storm of 1962. A new lookout was built in 1963 and operated until 1973. The building was moved by helicopter to a new location in 1975.