Hike: Butte Camp Trail via Red Rock Pass Trailhead, Cougar, WA

AllTrails map

Getting There

Take I-5 North to Woodland. Then take WA-503 (Lewis River Road) to Yale Lake. One way to get to the Red Rocks Pass Trailhead, take the left turn for Merrill Lake - NF 81. If you reach Cougar, you've gone passed it. It's a peaceful drive along Merrill Lake (even though you can't really see from the road.) Watch out for a 90-deg right turn just after Goat Mountain because if you go straight, it becomes Forest Road 8123 (dirt) and if you turn right you continue on NF-81 (paved) (Merrill Lake Road).

Another way to get there is pass through Cougar and take the left turn for Ape Caves/Ape & Lava Canyons (NF-83). Then, take that for awhile. After passing through a huge clear cut area, take a left toward Climber's Bivouac (NF-81). Follow that road (partly paved until NF-830, then it's dirt/gravel) until you reach Red Rocks Pass Trailhead.

There is room for about 4-5 cars to perpendicular park near the sign and then, plenty of room for parallel parking on the shoulder. Be sure to show your WA Discover Pass (or equiv).

 

The Hike

Length: 7.74 mi
Elevation gain: 1,736 ft
Moving time: 2:53:55
Avg. pace: 22:28
Calories: 1,532

Total time: 3:11:06

Fitbit
Steps: 23,122
Calories: 3,409
Miles: 10.62
Floors: 215

It was good to be back out here. I came in late spring via Merrill Lake and had to turn around somewhere around the Kalama Horse Camp due to heavy snow on the road and I was traveling solo.

A few months ago I had a weird David Lynch-esque dream that was loosely based on this location. I was kind of surreal to see it IRL and still be able to conjour the dream imagery and see how different it really was but how some of the topographical elements were distorted and represented.

I hiked trail last year on Oct 30, 2021 minus the off-trail detour/oopsie. It was warm but not terrible I was in long pants in case of bugs and long sleeved Kuhl shirt w/ 40 UPF coverage. Also, I was sporting my signature straw hat. I had about 4L of water to boot.

I bought a new pair of Keen Targhee III on Friday for $20 from the Keen HQ Garage Yard Sale. It benefited Love Is King ("Love Is King squashes the fear in the outdoors and provides equitable access and resolute safety to ensure an enriching and exhilarating experience in nature.") and Forest Park Conservancy ("Forest Park Conservancy's mission is focused on protecting Forest Park's ecological health while encouraging responsible recreation and access.").

When I got my first pair of Tarhee IIIs in 2020, I drove from the REI in Tualatin to the Grouse Vista Trail and hiked to Silver Star mountain. They worked out of the box: no blisters and minimal discomfort. The same was mostly true for this new pair. I did have some issues w/ my right foot. The left side was dialed in perfectly but I noticed an issue w/ the left side that I couldn't seem to fix; either too loose or too tight and slipping inside a little. I must have stopped 4-5 times to re-adjust and still wasn't happy with the fit. I know as the shoe is less stiff and form-fitting, it'll be good.

I didn't see enough people to correspond to the cars at the trailhead. There are a bunch of route options like heading west towards Blue Lake or doing the whole loop via Sheep Canyon. There was a couple camped before the big climb/switchbacks so probably others campers out there. 

It was pretty hazy in the distance which made it difficult to see Mt Hood. Still gorgeous panoramic views as you can see below.

 

 

 

 

Hike: Butte Camp Trail, Cougar, WA

AllTrails maps

Getting There

Take I-5 North to Woodland. Then take WA-503 (Lewis River Road) to Yale Lake. One way to get to the Red Rocks Pass Trailhead, take the left turn for Merrill Lake - NF 81. If you reach Cougar, you've gone passed it. It's a peaceful drive along Merrill Lake (even though you can't really see from the road.) Watch out for a 90-deg right turn just after Goat Mountain because if you go straight, it becomes Forest Road 8123 (dirt) and if you turn right you continue on NF-81 (paved) (Merrill Lake Road).

Another way to get there is pass through Cougar and take the left turn for Ape Caves/Ape & Lava Canyons (NF-83). Then, take that for awhile. After passing through a huge clear cut area, take a left toward Climber's Bivouac (NF-81). Follow that road (partly paved until NF-830, then it's dirt/gravel) until you reach Red Rocks Pass Trailhead.

There is room for about 4-5 cars to perpendicular park near the sign and then, plenty of room for parallel parking on the shoulder. Be sure to show your WA Discover Pass (or equiv).

The Hike

Distance: 8.80 mi
Elevation Gain: 1,873 ft
Moving Time: 3:19:44
Total Time: 3:39:48
Avg Pace: 22:42
Calories: 1,760

As soon as you leave the parking lot, you cross a huge rock field with MSH in the distance.

While the top of the mountain is white with snow, the coverage is still pretty minimal. It looks like most of the summit climb is snow-free, albeit with proper gear like spikes and picks and outerwear.

The rock field isn't too deep and you're soon in the forest. The trail surface is beautiful, not that muddy, soft but not mushy in places and the usual rocky/firm/pumice dust stuff similar to other trails around here (Ape Canyon, June Lake, Ptarmigan).

I passed a trio that were on there way down the trail.

I took a wrong turn pretty early on that added about 0.8mi by mistake. It's not marked in AllTrails but it's definitely more than an animal trail. Probably intersects with the Toutle or Blue Lake Horse Trails. I did see a marker (wooden post) on the way back and added some branches & and small log to "block" the wrong trail.

AllTrails map

The 1800' elevation gain is pretty evenly spread on the 4+ mile ascent. There are some steeper switchbacks at Butte Camp Dome (~400ft elev. gain in 0.6mi) but not bad. There's a cool traverse across some ash (see below). 

On my ascent, I saw a couple of hikers that had hopped on the trail just as I got there. On the switchbacks, I met a hiker that described the trail conditions and wind on a big loop they was on that links the Toutle, Sheep Canyon, and Loowit Trails with the Butte Camp Trail. Definitely coming back to hike this loop.

Just before the timberline, I met another hiker that confirmed the high winds ahead. 

It was zippy. A few gusts stopped me in my tracks for stability. I should have deployed my hiking poles but didn't. I made it to the Loowit junction and took it west for 0.1mi just for a look.

I promptly started back down, mostly to get out of the wind. I saw the pair I'd seen early on just as they emerged from the timberline. I waved and continued my descent.

Eventually, I caught up with the 2nd hiker I'd seen earlier. When I catch up with hiker at a slower pace I try to make noise (step on branch, small cough). Usually that's enough to get their attention, turn around, and see me. This person didn't hear me though so I said "nice to get down the bottom out of the wind." Well, I really see but this exact moment, this person was adjusting their pants like no one was around. They laughed, I laughed and said "the sun was in my eyes and didn't see a thing. I promise." I really didn't. I kept going and waved over my shoulder, we're both still chuckling.

The sun was bright and warm. I took notice of all the beautiful things: a colorful mushroom, some interesting rocks, the birds foraging on the ground and giving them room & time to fly to a nearby branch. "Hi birdies!". I touched the tiny saplings and said "Hi little one!"

Amanita muscaria (fly agaric)

volcanic?

volcanic?

More Photos

MSH from the top of the Butte Camp Trail

:)

Last section of trees

Butte Camp Dome from Loowit Trail

Craggy topography in the forest

Rock field near trailhead

Mt St Helens from the Butte Camp Trail

I was glad to reach the trailhead when I did. It was dark as the sun had long dipped below the horizon, nearby hills, and still somewhat windy.

Going Home:

Instead of going towards Merrill Lake which takes a bit of time, I took NF-81 towards Climber's Bivouac and NF-83 to Lewis River Road (WA-503).