Whitney Butte Trail,
Lava Beds National Monument
The Whitney Butte trailhead is located near the Merrill Ice Cave. The trail enters the Black Lava Flow Wilderness Area at the western boundary of the monument. Although this trail is long, it's a relatively easy trail to hike. Bring plenty of water, especially during the summer months as there are no water facilities available along the trail.
Elevation
The Whitney Butte Trail has a maximum elevation of 4,906 ft., a minimum elevation of 4,724 ft. and an elevation range of 182 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 3.3 mi | 4,724 ft | 4,906 ft | 182 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 1.3 hrs | 7.2 | 86 ft | 227 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 1.3 hrs | 18.9 | 227 ft | 86 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Whitney Butte Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Mount Dome, CA
- North Topo Map: Captain Jacks Stronghold, CA
- Northeast Topo Map: The Panhandle, CA
- West Topo Map: Bonita Butte, CA
- Topo Map: Schonchin Butte, CA
- East Topo Map: Caldwell Butte, CA
- Southwest Topo Map: Little Glass Mountain, CA
- South Topo Map: Medicine Lake, CA
- Southeast Topo Map: West of Kephart, CA
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Whitney Butte Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Whitney Butte Trail?
The length of the trail is 3.3 miles (5.4 km) or 7,152 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Whitney Butte Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 1.3 hours in one direction and in 1.3 hours in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) may be present in this area. The Rocky Mountain wood tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, and Tularemia.
- The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) may be present in this area. The Western blacklegged tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.