Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 44.61021°N / 104.7761°W
Additional Information County: Crook
Activities Activities: Hiking
Additional Information Elevation: 5376 ft / 1639 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

Devils Tower and the Missouri Buttes
Devils Tower(left) and the Missouri Buttes(right)


PLEASE NOTE - THE MISSOURI BUTTES ARE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THE LANDOWNER HAS REQUESTED PEOPLE NOT HIKE THESE BUTTES.

The Missouri Buttes are located 3.5 miles northwest of Devils Tower. While they are taller than Devils Tower, the Missouri Buttes are much less sheer and thus, recieve little attention. The Missouri Buttes consist of four separate summits which rise from an eroded mesa. They are composed of igneous phenolite, the same type of rock that Devils Tower is made of. It is a slick form of volcanic rock that forms into columns as it erodes, with the outer layers peeling off almost like an onion.


The Missouri Buttes, seen from the top of Devils Tower
The four Missouri Buttes, seen from the top of Devils Tower
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Northwest Butte is the highest point of the Missouri Buttes, clocking in at 5,374 feet (1,638 m). The Northeast Butte has an elevation of 5,212 feet (1,589 m), the southwest butte has an elevation of 5,020 feet (1,530 m) and the southeast butte has an elevation of 5,055 feet (1,541 m). 

Getting There

From Moorcroft, head north for about 60 miles to Devils Tower Junction. From Devils Tower Junction drive towards Hulett for a couple miles. Make a left when you see a large sign for a ranch and a lake. Contunue down a dirt road past ranches for a few more miles. Take a left at the first major junction. You should be able to see the Buttes on your left after breifly gaining some elevation. The Northwest Butte(the tallest of the buttes) is plainly distinguishable.

Red Dirt
The road near Devils Tower Junction
Not your ordinary hills-Devils Tower
Devils Tower National Monument

Sea of prairie
Looking back down the dirt road to the Missouri Buttes.
The Missouri Buttes from the road
The Missouri Buttes from the road.

The Tallest of the Missouri ButtesThe Northwest Missouri Butte, tallest of the Missouri Buttes

Ascent

Climbing the tallest Missouri ButteSteep cliffs at the top of the Northwest Missouri Butte

One can reach the top by walking up some easy terrain, followed by 3rd/4th class scrambling to the top. Dependeing on which way you scramble to the top, the route can become moderatly exposed. At the top you will catch spectacular views of Devils Tower and the surrounding prairie. There is also an old radio tower up there, along with a USGS marker. 

 
The old raidio tower on top of the Missouri Butte
The radio tower on the top
 
The top of the cliffs on the Northwest Missouri Butte
Looking down at the road from the summit of the Northwest butte.






 
Devils Tower from above
Devils Tower seen from the top of the Northwest Missouri Butte





 
USGS Marker on top of the Northwest Missouri Butte
The USGS marker on top of the Northwest Missouri Butte


 
Solitude
 View of the prairie from the top of the Northwest Missouri Butte. You can see for miles in any direction from the summit.


Children

Children

Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. For example, the Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children.