Barnaby Buttes

Barnaby Buttes sits in the heart of the Kettle Range, one of the quietest mountain areas in Washington state. The trail climbs from the east through Colville National Forest, gaining nearly 2,000 feet over 3.7 miles to a junction with the Kettle Crest Trail. From there, a short stretch along the crest and a final scramble leads to the 6,534-foot summit, where the remains of a fire lookout foundation mark the high point.

The approach trail is well-maintained but sees little traffic. Trip reports regularly mention following bear tracks with no human prints ahead. That solitude is the main draw. The summit views sweep across White Mountain and the surrounding Kettle Range peaks, and on clear days the sight lines stretch deep into the Columbia Highlands. The final trail segment to the summit can be faded and hard to follow, but the terrain stays open and you can see where you are heading.

Snow lingers above 5,300 feet well into late May, and the forest road access can be rough. This is a mid-June through October destination for most hikers. The area is prime for overnight backpacking connections along the Kettle Crest, and the Perseid meteor showers in August are reportedly spectacular from the summit ridge with zero light pollution.