Kamiak Butte
Eastern WashingtonBest Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
A forested island rising from the Palouse wheat fields, with a summit picnic table and 360-degree views of rolling farmland.
About This Trail
Kamiak Butte is the best short hike in the Palouse. This forested bump rises 1,000 feet above the surrounding wheat and lentil fields, offering a proper trail experience in a region where flat farmland stretches to every horizon. The Pine Ridge Trail loops through ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir, with a spur to the true summit where a picnic table sits waiting with views in every direction.
Spring is the prime season here. The Palouse hills turn impossibly green in April and May, and the wildflowers on the butte's slopes peak around the same time. By midsummer the fields fade to gold and the exposed sections of trail can get uncomfortably hot. Go counterclockwise if you want the easier grade; clockwise if you want to earn it on the way up and cruise on the way down.
This is a Whitman County park, so no pass is required. The trailhead has good parking, and the whole loop takes most people about two hours. It pairs perfectly with a drive up Steptoe Butte (20 minutes north) for a full Palouse day trip. Locals from Pullman and Moscow use this as their regular after-work trail, so you will have company on spring evenings and weekends.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- intense afternoon sun in summer
- ticks in spring
Getting There
Paved lot at Kamiak Butte County Park. No pass or fee required. Plenty of space even on busy spring weekends.
Pine Ridge Trail forms the main loop. A spur trail leads to the true summit with picnic table. The West End Trail offers an alternate, more primitive descent with switchbacks. New interpretive map at the trailhead shows the full network.
Morning or late afternoon in summer to avoid peak heat. Spring evenings are ideal when the light hits the green Palouse hills.
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