Billings County Highpoint Trip Report
Date: May 8, 2006
Author: Bob Schwab
I approached Bullion Butte from the north by getting permission to climb from
the Griffin Ranch. Unfortunately, these kind owners are in the process of
selling their ranch, so I don’t know with whom future visitors should make
arrangements. I would suggest you contact the Grazing Association in Medora to
determine who you should speak to about permission -- and buy a grasslands map.
Drive down FR 745 from the Medora area on a pretty good dirt road all the way to
the Griffin Ranch. Park in the ranch yard, cross the creek, and hike southwest,
crossing a ravine on the way to an obvious north ridge. There is a trail that
begins at a ranch gate near a white hardscrabble area that is a lot of fun --
it rises about 1,000 vertical feet with a grand view of the badlands around you.
Once you snake through the cap rock and get to the top (BM Bullion, 3336),
the true highpoint is still over a mile away across the grassy top on the south rim
of the butte. This is one of the best hikes I found in ND.