aepler315 - Nov 21, 2023 12:52 am Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2023
Nice trail
Trail to the top. Great condition. Steep!
wtdash - Jul 18, 2022 9:26 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2022
Mid-Summer Summit
From Highway 20>Albian Hill Road 2030>Old Stage Trail Trailhead. Water and mud from springs around the perimeter of the parking area that encircles the USFS/NFS' modern? outhouse could get you stuck. Plenty of parking, just don't pull in too far.
My non-human best friend and hiking pal, Sara, and I hiked up the wide trail for about 1.5 miles, stepping over multiple small springs to the junction with Kettle Crest Trail #13. Take a hard left and walk a few yards farther and the single-track spur is on the left to the top of Copper Butte. I saw no signage. There were about 8 smaller dead logs across the trail - either step over or crawl under (if you're furry and 4-legged). Also, a handful of small trees still trying to gain their height from the winter's snow needed to be moved to the side. Otherwise, a mostly painless hike 'til the last .5 mile when the pitch steepens, but still flat-footed hiking. The views from the top are nice but not the scenic, rugged peaks of the Selkirks or other mountain ranges. On this cloudless (and smokeless) day I couldn't see the more exposed and jagged peaks west to the Cascades (as some have noted) or north into the related range of the Monashees (heli-ski!) in Canada. Flies on top were a real menace on this windless day, so after a quick slurp (by my pal) we retraced our steps.
Brian Jenkins - Oct 16, 2021 10:49 pm Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2021
Snowy and full of tracks
Snow on the ridge. Big bear tracks, tons of turkey tracks, deer, either pine marten or bobcat too. Larches popping this weekend. On to Midnight Mountain after this one.
TacitMoose - May 12, 2020 12:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2010
Kettle Crest
Climbed all of the peaks along the kettle crest. Exhausting but gorgeous.
I'd only looked over beta a few weeks prior to heading to Copper Butte, but the short hike up seemed pretty straightforward. So when I keyed in "Old Stage Trailhead" on my phone. I slept in the car at the trailhead and next morning as I was brushing my teeth I read the kiosk. 5.7 miles to the summit spur...this is going to end up being over twice what I'd expected. Huh, I must have read the trip reports wrong. Oh well.
A couple miles up the trail I ended up on a road...not like the disused one I had been walking on, but one that seemed to still be in use. After a 1/2-mile I backtracked and followed that same road down but something was off. Finally I consulted my topo maps, but no such roads or junctions showed up on my map. I pulled out my phone and checked Gaia.
Old Stage is a thru trail...with two trailheads. I quickly identified the route and headed from there.
It was an embarrassing novice error, and I should have known much better -- and the time spent on the longer route cost me attempts on Abercrombie and Gypsy (I did not care to be alone in grizzly territory after dark, even with my can of confidence.)
Still it was lovely. I saw nary a soul on the trail, the summit, or the road. Autumn colors are already here, and they were breathtaking.
If you choose this route, it is a lovely walk. Just be sure to bring your topo maps and/or Gaia as junctions are not marked.
Paul McClellan - Sep 1, 2014 9:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2014
Nice Hike
Took the Old Stage Road to the Kettle Crest Trail, then followed that south to the summit of Copper Butte. Had the trails all to myself this day. Thank you for the directions, Dean.
Kyle509 - Oct 17, 2012 12:44 am Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2012
fall
Nothing beats Kettlecrest in the fall. Just wear hunter orange.
This is home ground for me. No climb here. Dean has a good write up on his page regarding this, the highest point in Ferry County and the Kettle River Range.
Redwic - Aug 9, 2010 12:55 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2010
Very Easy, Enjoyable Hike!
After already summiting Snyder Hill, Gypsy Peak, and Abercrombie Mountain in a 36-hour span... and after injuring both legs near the summit of Abercrombie Mountain... this hike was a total relief. Great views from the summit, and the trail was exceptional easy (in my opinion). 1h15m up, 15m at the summit, 50m down. This was my 29th WA CoHP.
A nice hike in the cool September air on a Sunday afternoon on my way back from Canada.
ericnoel - Jun 23, 2008 10:39 am Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2008
Old Stage Route
This was a nice and easy east side hike with high prom and a county highpoint as part of the reward.
Ridgerunner755 - Feb 11, 2007 2:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2003
Old Stage Route
Climbed this one by myself. The flies were so bad I couldn't stand still for more than a few seconds. I ran most of the way down so I didn't get eaten. Saw both white-tailed and mule deer on the trail.
surgent - Oct 19, 2006 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2004
Nice day hike
Enjoyable day hike to the top. Interesting collection of 'junk' up there. Air was smoky from fires up in BC.
Dennis Poulin - Sep 18, 2006 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2006
First snow of season
This is a great hike. It snowed the night before and I had the honor of breaking trail in all of about 1-2" of snow on the summit. Still real cloudy and not much of a view.
Route Climbed: Old Stage Route Date Climbed: July 2, 2004
This is the easiest hike in the area in which you can get over 7,000 feet elevation. Kids can easily tackle this peak. There was a few patches of snow on the summit on this day. The skies were hazy from distant forest fires to the west.
I had last climbed this mountain in 1995, a year after the forest fire had burned the timber. At the time, there was no undergrowth, but 9 years later I was pleased to see some 2'-high brush. For most of the hike, one can see through the dead trees. There is an eerie silence from a lack of wildlife.
Although this trail is well maintained, when the dead trees fall it's going to take LOTS of chainsawing to keep it clear.
Route Climbed: S Ridge (Kettle Crest Trail) Date Climbed: 10 July 2004
I hiked the north 30 miles of the Kettle Crest trail with a friend. The trail goes right over the summit. This time of year, the subalpine meadows are green with knee high grass and there are thousands of wildflowers of every color. Beautiful scenery to boot - well worth the jaunt.
Route Climbed: Copper Butte Trail Date Climbed: September 21, 2002
My wife and I joined theplugger and her husband J plus Bob and Dotty Martin on this county highpointing hike. Actually, we got there well after they had started hiking, and we didn't "catch" them until they were on their way down the trail. The others waited at the Copper Butte/Midgnight Mtn saddle while they ate some lunch, and we caught them there. Then several of us hiked up the ridge to the top of Midgnight and back. Gorgeous day, and great fun!
aepler315 - Nov 21, 2023 12:52 am Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2023
Nice trailTrail to the top. Great condition. Steep!
wtdash - Jul 18, 2022 9:26 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2022
Mid-Summer SummitFrom Highway 20>Albian Hill Road 2030>Old Stage Trail Trailhead. Water and mud from springs around the perimeter of the parking area that encircles the USFS/NFS' modern? outhouse could get you stuck. Plenty of parking, just don't pull in too far.
My non-human best friend and hiking pal, Sara, and I hiked up the wide trail for about 1.5 miles, stepping over multiple small springs to the junction with Kettle Crest Trail #13. Take a hard left and walk a few yards farther and the single-track spur is on the left to the top of Copper Butte. I saw no signage. There were about 8 smaller dead logs across the trail - either step over or crawl under (if you're furry and 4-legged). Also, a handful of small trees still trying to gain their height from the winter's snow needed to be moved to the side. Otherwise, a mostly painless hike 'til the last .5 mile when the pitch steepens, but still flat-footed hiking. The views from the top are nice but not the scenic, rugged peaks of the Selkirks or other mountain ranges. On this cloudless (and smokeless) day I couldn't see the more exposed and jagged peaks west to the Cascades (as some have noted) or north into the related range of the Monashees (heli-ski!) in Canada. Flies on top were a real menace on this windless day, so after a quick slurp (by my pal) we retraced our steps.
Brian Jenkins - Oct 16, 2021 10:49 pm Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2021
Snowy and full of tracksSnow on the ridge. Big bear tracks, tons of turkey tracks, deer, either pine marten or bobcat too. Larches popping this weekend. On to Midnight Mountain after this one.
TacitMoose - May 12, 2020 12:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2010
Kettle CrestClimbed all of the peaks along the kettle crest. Exhausting but gorgeous.
huskertriguy - Sep 10, 2018 4:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2018
Don't do what I did!I'd only looked over beta a few weeks prior to heading to Copper Butte, but the short hike up seemed pretty straightforward. So when I keyed in "Old Stage Trailhead" on my phone. I slept in the car at the trailhead and next morning as I was brushing my teeth I read the kiosk. 5.7 miles to the summit spur...this is going to end up being over twice what I'd expected. Huh, I must have read the trip reports wrong. Oh well.
A couple miles up the trail I ended up on a road...not like the disused one I had been walking on, but one that seemed to still be in use. After a 1/2-mile I backtracked and followed that same road down but something was off. Finally I consulted my topo maps, but no such roads or junctions showed up on my map. I pulled out my phone and checked Gaia.
Old Stage is a thru trail...with two trailheads. I quickly identified the route and headed from there.
It was an embarrassing novice error, and I should have known much better -- and the time spent on the longer route cost me attempts on Abercrombie and Gypsy (I did not care to be alone in grizzly territory after dark, even with my can of confidence.)
Still it was lovely. I saw nary a soul on the trail, the summit, or the road. Autumn colors are already here, and they were breathtaking.
If you choose this route, it is a lovely walk. Just be sure to bring your topo maps and/or Gaia as junctions are not marked.
Paul McClellan - Sep 1, 2014 9:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2014
Nice HikeTook the Old Stage Road to the Kettle Crest Trail, then followed that south to the summit of Copper Butte. Had the trails all to myself this day. Thank you for the directions, Dean.
Kyle509 - Oct 17, 2012 12:44 am Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2012
fallNothing beats Kettlecrest in the fall. Just wear hunter orange.
kevinsa - Sep 15, 2012 9:18 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2009
Copper ButteMade a quick jog up in the morning before the thunderstorms started.
Vic Hanson - Aug 16, 2012 8:48 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2012
Cool down lap - 1After 4 big glacier climbs, we hiked up Copper, no snow, just a quick 1 hr, 10 min to the summit, 50 min down.
foster fanning - Feb 12, 2012 12:14 am
Before the 1994 Wildfire named COPPER BUTTEThis is home ground for me. No climb here. Dean has a good write up on his page regarding this, the highest point in Ferry County and the Kettle River Range.
Redwic - Aug 9, 2010 12:55 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2010
Very Easy, Enjoyable Hike!After already summiting Snyder Hill, Gypsy Peak, and Abercrombie Mountain in a 36-hour span... and after injuring both legs near the summit of Abercrombie Mountain... this hike was a total relief. Great views from the summit, and the trail was exceptional easy (in my opinion). 1h15m up, 15m at the summit, 50m down. This was my 29th WA CoHP.
idcanuck - Sep 8, 2008 6:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2008
Trail 75 - Old Stage RoadA nice hike in the cool September air on a Sunday afternoon on my way back from Canada.
ericnoel - Jun 23, 2008 10:39 am Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2008
Old Stage RouteThis was a nice and easy east side hike with high prom and a county highpoint as part of the reward.
Ridgerunner755 - Feb 11, 2007 2:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2003
Old Stage RouteClimbed this one by myself. The flies were so bad I couldn't stand still for more than a few seconds. I ran most of the way down so I didn't get eaten. Saw both white-tailed and mule deer on the trail.
surgent - Oct 19, 2006 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2004
Nice day hikeEnjoyable day hike to the top. Interesting collection of 'junk' up there. Air was smoky from fires up in BC.
Dennis Poulin - Sep 18, 2006 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2006
First snow of seasonThis is a great hike. It snowed the night before and I had the honor of breaking trail in all of about 1-2" of snow on the summit. Still real cloudy and not much of a view.
Dundeel - Oct 24, 2005 12:39 am
Route Climbed: Old Stage Date Climbed: October 23, 2005Weather good, no snow. Quite a few hunters. I wore my orange and yellow vest for safety.
WA county highpoint #24.
dluders - Apr 29, 2005 8:00 pm
Route Climbed: Old Stage Route Date Climbed: July 2, 2004This is the easiest hike in the area in which you can get over 7,000 feet elevation. Kids can easily tackle this peak. There was a few patches of snow on the summit on this day. The skies were hazy from distant forest fires to the west.
I had last climbed this mountain in 1995, a year after the forest fire had burned the timber. At the time, there was no undergrowth, but 9 years later I was pleased to see some 2'-high brush. For most of the hike, one can see through the dead trees. There is an eerie silence from a lack of wildlife.
Although this trail is well maintained, when the dead trees fall it's going to take LOTS of chainsawing to keep it clear.
Moni - Aug 2, 2004 11:02 am
Route Climbed: S Ridge (Kettle Crest Trail) Date Climbed: 10 July 2004I hiked the north 30 miles of the Kettle Crest trail with a friend. The trail goes right over the summit. This time of year, the subalpine meadows are green with knee high grass and there are thousands of wildflowers of every color. Beautiful scenery to boot - well worth the jaunt.
Bob Bolton - Jan 12, 2004 1:06 am
Route Climbed: Copper Butte Trail Date Climbed: September 21, 2002My wife and I joined theplugger and her husband J plus Bob and Dotty Martin on this county highpointing hike. Actually, we got there well after they had started hiking, and we didn't "catch" them until they were on their way down the trail. The others waited at the Copper Butte/Midgnight Mtn saddle while they ate some lunch, and we caught them there. Then several of us hiked up the ridge to the top of Midgnight and back. Gorgeous day, and great fun!