Sierra Buttes Lookout

In the Tahoe National Forest, the volcanic Sierra Buttes rise sharply above the North Yuba River Canyon, and at 8,587 feet in elevation watch over the many blue lakes that dot the Lakes Basin landscape. There is a decommissioned fire lookout tower perched on the summit, providing incredible 360 degree views reaching into more than seven different counties. The Buttes are without doubt one of the most distinctive geological features of the northern Sierra Nevada, and the lookout is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the region. Although most hikers reach the lookout from the lower trailhead, 2.5 miles and 1,600 feet of elevation below, those with high-clearance four wheel drive can access the upper trailhead, a mere 3/4 mile from the lookout tower.