Steptoe Butte State Park---A View From Above

    

Panorama from the top of Steptoe Butte 

Shadow of the peak cast down below

     If you want to take a nice day trip within the Spokane, Washington area then Steptoe Butte State Park is regarded as a must visit.  Jutting outward of the beautiful Palouse landscape is a 3,612 foot bluff that still retains some of the oldest rocks in the region.  The park itself is about 150 acres, and is open from 6 a.m. to nightfall.  The lower park has some great barbecue braziers and picnic spots, while the spiraling drive to the top will lead to the immense landscapes and incredible views.  Some sources say you can see over 200 miles on a clear day. 

Deer are among the local wildlife

   

View overlooking the hills below

The sun had nearly dipped below the horizon

   These views have always been something people have been drawn to as the landmark has quite a bit of interesting social history as well as geologic history.  According to the Steptoe Butte State Park website, the quartzite butte was once known as Pyramid Peak, but later renamed after Colonel Edward J. Steptoe.  In the latter part of the 19th century, the land was purchased so a large motel could be built at the peak.  One of the most interesting tales state that there was a glass observatory placed at the very top of the two story hotel, and guests had claimed to be able to see the Cascade mountains during clear weather.  Much of this information can also be found within a very informative video posted here.
  The ancestral natives to the area also historically regarded the butte as a power mountain, and youths entering adulthood would journey up and around the butte for several days as part of their spirit quest.            

Orange and purple hues created by the setting sun

   Today, we are fortunate enough to be able to simply drive up the 3.5 mile road to reach the top with ease, but make sure you have either a Discover Pass or can cover the daily parking fee at one of the 2 pay stations.  It is only about an hour drive to the south of Spokane, and GPS makes it easy to find.  My personal recommendation would be to go and see the sunset, as the color changes are incredible during the evenings.  It is a good idea to take plenty of sunscreen, water, and food because none of that is accessible unless you drive to the nearest town.  Hope you enjoy your trip whenever you get to make the drive out there.

Another view of the color splashed sunset taken 7/14/2017