Butler Mountain Trail

Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · Historical Significance

The trail makes for a good car shuttle through run. There is no sign at the northern trailhead. Park 0.2 mile south of the Salmon River Road bridge that crosses Butler Creek, on the river side of the road, at a sign reading, "No Overnight Camping." The trail starts on the other side of the road, 30 feet up river (south), initially following a short unpaved road spur that climbs steeply. Where this road curves left, the trail turns to the right, and here a sign marks the direction of the trail. The first 0.6 mile of the trail borders private property, so please stay on the trail. The southern trailhead is also unmarked, but easy to spot, with the trail switchbacking up a short, open slope across the road from a home.

Poor footing with steep side slopes in places--runners should take it slow over those sections.

Before the construction of the Salmon River Road in the 1920s, a pack trail was the only access to Forks of Salmon and points farther up Salmon River. Since trail construction was blocked by the precipitous Grant Bluffs looming over the river, the trail had to climb 2000 feet from Butler Flat to a saddle west of Butler Mountain, and descend back to the river at the mouth of Lewis Creek.

As described in the wonderful book, "In the Land of the Grasshopper Song," the full Salmon River Trail went "over two mountains" between Somes Bar and Forks of Salmon. Today's Butler Mountain Trail, a remnant, follows the route over one of them.

After decades of neglect, the trail has been restored. Basic clearing of the full length of the trail has been completed as of 2021. Some down logs (easy to clamber over), moderately brushy sections, and pieces of failing trail tread remain. There is one very low, huge "duck-under" log high on the Butler Creek side. There are long stretches of very narrow tread on the Lewis Creek side. Watch out for abundant poison oak in many places along the full length of the trail.

Starting from the northern trailhead, after mostly traversing the forest, the trail reaches a ridge with excellent views up Butler Creek and across the river to Tom Payne and Portuguese Peaks. The stiff climb continues, topping out at the saddle between the Butler Creek and Lewis Creek drainages. The trail then descends high above Lewis Creek, offering views of the peaks above the drainage and southeast across Salmon River, finally again reaching the road.

One can see that portions of the trail remain deeply incised from the hooves of thousands of pack trains that once traveled the trail to reach mines and settlements upriver.

Being one of the few trails in the area that start and end near river level, this is suitable for year-round use, although during a cold snap in winter one might encounter snow close to the top of the saddle.

Not currently suitable for stock.

Forest Service Trail ##7E15 & 7E39 (Six Rivers N.F. numbering system) or #5826 (Klamath N.F. system).

The Lewis Creek half of the trail is attractive in spring, traversing some sloping meadows with lush growth of bunch grasses. That half of the trail also goes through a couple of impressive old growth stands of Douglas-fir.