Day Hike - Oregon Butte

Two day hikes 6/17 Oregon Butte, 6/18 Panjab Creek.

6/17 Oregon Butte hike:  Driving directions to Oregon Butte/Teepee TH from Tucannon CG(gravel/dirt roads).    Meet 7:30am at Tucannon CG, drive approx 2 mi SW on FR47, to junction (signed Godman Guard Stn 16 mi).   Turn R at junction toward Godman Guard Stn onto FR 4620 which includes short rough rocky section.  L turn at monument onto Kendall Skyline Drive, pass Midway CG on R, drive 5 miles further, taking L fork onto FR 4608, pass Godman Guard Stn in 1 mile, and drive approx 6 miles to road end at Teepee TH/CG.   Arrive approx 9:00am at Teepee TH and begin hiking soon after.   If starting from Panjab CG, allow approx 5 minute drive to Tucannon River CG, plus approx 50-60 minutes if  driving from Dayton.  High clearance vehicle recommended for drive  to Teepee TH.

6/18 Panjab Creek hike:  Driving directions to Panjab Creek TH from Tucannon CG (gravel/dirt roads) or Panjab CG.    Meet 8:00am at Tucannon CG, Tucannon CG (on L), where pavement soon ends and continue S on gravel road.  Meet any drivers/riders at Panjab CG or pass Panjab CG (on L) and drive 2-3 miles further, arriving at Panjab TH (on L).  Arrive approx 8:15am at Panjab TH and begin hiking soon after. 

Approx drive time from Seattle/Portland to Dayton ~4-4.5 hours + approx 2 hours to Teepee TH (via Panjab TH/CG or Tucannon CG). 

Driving directions from Dayton to Panjab TH:  From US 12/Main St in Dayton, turn R (across from Seneca Bldg) onto Hartsock Grade/Patit Road (road sign on ground).   After 17 miles, turn L at stop sign to Patit Road, pass Lewis Gulch Road near pavement end and onto good gravel road for approx 3-4 miles, then turn R onto paved Tucannon River Road (becomes FR 47), after 11 miles pass Tucannon CG (on L), where pavement soon ends and continue S on gravel road.  Pass Panjab CG (on L) and drive 2-3 miles further, arriving at Panjab TH (on L).

Update 4/15:

Members only.  Minimum 3 persons.  Leadership permission required.

Be sure to read all activity information (meeting time/location, leader's notes/links, and route/place before requesting leader permission.  Submit permission requests beginning April 12, when registration opens.   Include complete responses to following in your leader permission request form or supplementary email for leader review:  provide examples of your Mountaineers comparable moderate hikes (incl trail name, mileage, elev gain) during past 12 months including up to 1800' gain and up to 8 mi days, experience and comfort with easy/moderate stream fords (calf to knee depth), and describe current fitness activities.  What are you interested in this particular trip  Include your travel plans and carpool interest (drive high clearance and/or ride needed).   

The hikes will be at relaxed pace for naturalist and photo interests.  We’ll leisurely hike as a group on Day 1/Oregon Butte Trail from Teepee TH to the lookout (6387'), and Day 2/ 6.2 mi RT with 800' gain/loss and Panjab Creek Trail from Panjab TH towards Indian Corral for up to 6-8 mi RT with approx 1500' gain/loss.  

Look for abundance and diversity of late spring / early summer wildflower species (200+) seen along trails in pristine habitats to rapidly recovering 2021 fire areas including profuse wildflower growth, surpassing blooms seen on most other northwest trails.  

WNPS plant list/Panjab Creek (plus additional species on Oregon Butte trail):                                https://www.wnps.org/plant-lists/list?Panjab_Creek_2011_Botany_Backpack

Enjoy the many wildlife/mammals in W-T Wilderness:  Nearly every mammal species present in the Blue Mountains can be found within the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness including Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep, whitetail and mule deer, black bear, cougar, coyote, pine martens, chipmunks and more.  Birds seen or heard include woodpeckers, sapsuckers,  flycatchers, hummingbirds, bluebirds,  juncos, nuthatch, hermit and varied thrushes, c-b chickadee, W tanager, gray jay, robin, eagles, hawks, owls, more.  Common butterflies sightings include:  Lorquin's Admiral, Swallowtail, Checkerspot, Crescent, Blues, Whites, etc.   See many varieties of interesting insects including bumblebees, large colorful hornets, sphinx/clearwing moths, ladybugs, beetles, etc.  

Oregon Butte Lookout photos/info:  https://www.trailchick.com/wa-state-fire-lookouts/oregon-butte-lookout/

Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required at Forest Service trailheads/camps.  WA Discover Pass required for camping/day use in WT Wooten Wildlife Area sites.

WTA link to trail description & trip reports:  https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/panjab-trail#hike-full-description ; https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/oregon-butte

Recommended guidebooks:  Day Hiking Eastern Washington (#120 Oregon & West Buttes); Backpacking Washington (#70 Oregon Butte for Oregon Butte and Panjab Creek sections)

Recommend accoms:  front country Forest Service camping (Tucannon, Panjab or Ladybug CGs nr Panjab TH, or Godman near Teepee TH), or WT Wooten Wildlife Area's primitive camps  along Tucannon River Road (N of Tucannon CG), or motel in Dayton area.  Bring your water supply if camping at Forest Service or WA Wildlife campgrounds.  Link to Pomeroy RD Forest Service campgrounds & cabins:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/umatilla/recarea/?recid=56673

TICKS, RATTLESNAKES, COUGAR AND BLACK BEAR SAFETY:  Please take tick precautions, especially during late spring and early summer.   Be alert for rattlesnakes. Black bear and cougar range in this area, so be aware of camp/travel safety guidance and consider bringing bear spray (bear & cougar deterrent).  See links below for bear/cougar safety guidance:   https://kootenaygirlguides.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/bearsandcougars.pdf

https://www.fws.gov/story/2022-06/how-be-bear-aware-black-bear-country

https://www.fws.gov/story/mountain-lion-safety

If you have interest and time, consider exploring nearby Palouse Falls State Park or some Blue Mountains' birding gems:  including Touchet and Tucannon River areas as described A Birder's Guide to Washington / Blue Mountains.  See Washington's "Woodpecker Heaven."