Minidoka County Highpoint Trip Report

Bear Den Butte (5,104 feet)

Date: July 3, 2008
Author: Adam Helman

This effort is part of a larger journey collecting Montana and Idaho county highpoints in July 2008.

I performed a complete south-to-north traverse of Craters of the Moon by automobile, stopping at Bear Den Butte to secure the county highpoint.

Remote. Sixty-nine miles of dirt roads. Saw nobody else the entire time. Car trouble would be serious.

I took a hiking route from the northeast side, taking ten minutes to the top with perhaps 200 feet of elevation gain. The hike's bulk entailed walking through tall grasses that precluded seeing one's feet. Knowing that snakes are a serious threat in these parts, I chanted,

"Though I walk through the valley of death I shall not fear."

It was windy on the summit - so providing relief from the midday heat.

WGS84 datum summit coordinates are (43.17877°N, 113.50750° W) at 5,122 feet.