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Squaw Butte Lookout
Emmett,
Idaho
(Gem County)
Last Updated:
08/29/2023
Trail Information
Highlights
Squaw Butte is a prominent feature of the Emmett Valley landscape. You can watch for quail, pheasant, and the greater sage-grouse, also known as a sagehen, while you travel through the lower elevations of this beautiful mountain with seasonal streams from the winter snows at the peak. There is a beautiful, steep-walled canyon where you gain 1100 feet in only 1.5 miles, where you might see deer, elk, and even bighorn sheep. Near the summit, there are quaking alders on either side of the more shallow canyon you are now in where black bears have been spotted. The views of the valley below are amazing from the summit and even more so if you can drive to the Lookout Tower.
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
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Dennis Clark
Official Crew
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Trail Reviews
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 08/29/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
Patricia and I took this beautiful day off to revisit Squaw Butte, the road is unchanged since the towers/antennas need frequent maintenance. I was surprised since we recently had 2 heavy thunderstorms. The last 1/4 mile to the lookout is still locked.
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Partially Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 04/22/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
This is my 2nd time going this trail and it has great view. I took my drone with me this time, however there was a spot that was washed out and had to turn around. I'll add the pic and gps location. If you have a jeep shouldn't be an issue.
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 08/07/2022
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
My son and I did a quick run up here to get some drone footage. This is with my Skydio2. The trail continues to be in excellent condition due to the many towers with antennas that need maintenance. I was able to get pretty close to the lookout which appears to be unmanned while the final gate remains locked.
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 06/06/2022
Difficulty Accuracy:
Easier
What an awesome trail and great views! My stock AWD Honda Passport with BFG K02 did great with traction. Thanks for sharing this trail!
Open
Rated
3/5
Visited: 04/02/2022
I have been driving up Squaw Butte for 20 years and this review does it justice. It's an awesome trip at different times of the year--a fall trip is very different than a hot, dusty summer trip is very different than a snow and ice trip in the winter. In fact, a lot of people get in trouble up there in the winter because they underestimate how much the snow/ice plays into the elevation factor. Just because you can make it when it's dusty doesn't mean you can make it during the snowy season.
Driving to the lookout is one of my favorite ways to kill a couple of hours, go look at the land, and watch storms roll in across the Treasure Valley.
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