Sometimes the most magical places are in the back yard and in plain sight. Chaffin Butte (the “C” hill above Corvallis) is just such a place. This short, steep trail leads through sagebrush to the top of Chaffin Butte with panoramic views of the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains.

The trail quickly drops down from the parking area and crosses a small coulee before starting uphill. It passes a piled-stone grave and remnants of an old building foundation before starting a steep trek to the top.

The trail is steep and the tread is rough at times, with small, loose rocks and dirt that make it easy to slip, especially on the descent. Nearly 800 feet of the elevation gain occurs in the last half mile. There are some great views of the Bitterroot Valley, Bitterroot Mountains, and Sapphire Mountains.

GETTING HERE

From US-93, turn east on Woodside Crossing/MT 373 (about 7 miles south of Victor) into Corvallis. Head east through Corvallis and follow Willow Creek Road for about two and a half miles, continuing straight onto Coal Pit Road. After a short distance, turn left onto Summerdale Road and follow this road for just short of a mile before turning right onto Soft Rock Road.

The Views

The trail goes through both private and state lands Okay, the sweat was starting to pour by this point Looking down at Corvallis Approaching the top of Chaffin Butte Bitterroot Range from Chaffin Butte

The Wildflowers

Bitterroot – Lewisia rediviva Brittle Pricklypear – Opuntia fragilis Bessey’s Locoweed – Oxytropis besseyi Geyer’s Twinpod – Physaria geyeri Cutleaf Fleabane – Erigeron compositus Lanceleaf Stonecrop – Sedum lanceolatum Fuzzy-tongue Penstemon – Penstemon eriantherus Meadow Salsify