Shafer Butte Loop via Brewer's Byway and Lodge Cat Track is a 5.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Boise, Idaho that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
Plenty of parking is available at Bogus Basin Ski Resort. At times in the summer the lodge will be open and serving food. One lift will typically run on two days (total) each summer.
November 7, 2020October 28, 2020Excellent, even in cold weather. The sign for the first trail is small but look to the lift station
October 26, 2020Just did this Friday the 23rd of Oct. Beautiful clear sky. The views at the top of the Butte are amazing.
October 17, 2020Great, fairly easy trail. Not marked at the intersection points so it’s helpful to use gps if it’s your first time there! Went in mid October and it was in good condition.
October 4, 2020Great hike! Fantastic views of Bogus, Mores Mountain, and Stack Rock. Perfect for a fall afternoon hike.
September 30, 2020Nice single track. Some trails closed due to logging. Beautiful fall day.
September 27, 2020Always beautiful and well maintained - other than skipping the lookout this is a perfect hike
September 25, 2020September 12, 2020Well maintained, not too busy, super friendly bikers and hikers alike. At one point I took a wrong turn and took a different route to the top- still gorgeous even in the smoke!
September 7, 2020Nice trail, kinda busy today. Not many markings, so we got a little lost. Fun adventure!
September 6, 2020Beautiful trail at 88 degrees and gentle breezes.
September 5, 2020Great hike!
August 29, 2020August 9, 2020Gorgeous views, millions of flowers in August. Trails very well maintained Didnt need my trekking poles. Pretty busy w dogs/bikes/hikers but everyone was polite.
August 7, 2020Very well marked-trail starts to the east of the trail map sign at the top of Morning Star. First mike encountered 5-6 Mtn bikers but everyone was really good about sharing the trail; after the first mile we saw no one else until the last mile or so. The flowers are still out and in full bloom. Moderate hike, right at 4 miles, we did not hike to the top for the side trip which where I would guess you get the extra mile.
August 1, 2020Great trail for hiking and biking! Awesome views with great terrain. Moderate difficulty, but worth it. Take Brewers Byway to Elk Meadows to lodge cat track. Do not take Deerpoint - that takes you back down to the base.
July 26, 2020Nice easy hike to the top. You can see all of the bogus basin ski resort
July 20, 2020Pleasant hike to shafer butte lookout. Pretty views and decent amount of shade. Still a lot of wildflowers. We completed the route from Scott Marchant’s hiking book
June 29, 2020This was a beautiful trail!!! Hands down 5stars however it’s not marked well so we ended up off off roading to get back onto the trail!!!
June 10, 2020Beautiful trail with gorgeous views! After about a mile or so (once we reached cabin traverse) , the trail was slightly snowed in. The snow got about ankle-deep in parts of the trail. We did not reach the top of Shafer Butte Lookout due to snow and seeing fresh large animal tracks in the snow. Would definitely recommend hiking boots and recording your hike or having a trail map with you before hiking! Will be back to hike once the snow is gone!
May 17, 2020The left side of the mountain is snowed out and there isn’t a clear defined trail. Ended up scrambling up the sheer of the mountain instead of backtracking. But the Brewers Byway trail is clear and you can walk up the forest service road if you don’t want to wait out the snow! Awesome views all around.
May 9, 2020Got out around noon, definitely have to YakTrax. Trail is 80% or better covered in snow. I lost it several times, and had to bushwhack it. Solo isolation hiking at its best, and the views are phenomenal.
May 8, 2020So bummed we had to turn back about half way cause it was too icy in the shade. I’d recommend bringing crampons or yaktrax for that area! Will be back to try it again in a few weeks!
