Maxwell Butte Trail is a 9.9 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Cascadia, Oregon that features a great forest setting and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and snowshoeing and is best used from November until March. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
hiking
nature trips
snowshoeing
walking
forest
views
snow
Really nice hike. The first mile is a nice walk. The subsequent miles have lots of downed trees. You will spend a fair bit of time navigating up and over and around. Then the trail clears out again for the hike to the top. It's billy goat walking and the last half mile is a challenge. Gorgeous views at the top! Mt Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Black Butte, Mt Washington and Three Sisters. A bit hazy from the wildfires.
Great hike winter and summer. Summer offers a private lake and great view of many mountains. Winter is just great scenery and you can warm up in the cabin at the top. Better view in the summer!
Aidan T.
Great mountain bike trail with little to no foot traffic
Great trail with great camping! Hard hike up a deep channel creek bed. If you use poles make sure they telegraph or you'll end up gripping them below mid center! Trail winds through conifer for the first two miles, then opens into scrub high-alpine where it meets with the PCT. Keep going up to Maxwell into open high-alpine. Great places to camp less than a mile before the trail starts the switchback wind up to the top of Maxwell; alpine meadow overlooking forever or in the bottoms of Maxwell Lake - romantic and TONS of wildlife. Reach the top of Maxwell late day or go up again in the morning and watch the sun do its thing. Fabulous, breathtaking views of Three Finger Jack! Sisters, Jefferson, Hood and sometimes more in the distance. An all-time favorite hike of mine!