The trek up Black Butte is a little less than 2 miles from trailhead to top, but with an elevation gain of 1600 feet it's a good workout. Views from the south side of the butte shooting west include Middle and South Sisters.

Black Butte can be seen for miles ... this is the view from the north side of Suttle Lake.

The trail starts off with a  moderate climb, but then steepens after the first switchback.

We rounded a bend on the east side of the butte where the dirt trail ended suddenly in several feet of snow (this was late spring). We tried to stay in the tracks of hikers that had gone before us, but sunk in to our knees in several places.

In the near distance is Mt. Jefferson and to the far right is Hood, barely visible through the haze.

The look-out tower at the top of Black Butte was closed until fire season. Don't tell Gary, but I was actually glad - I don't think I could have climbed the stairs after the hike up the mountain and the last 100 yards of scrambling through seveal feet of snow.  :)

Elevation: 1,600-foot elevation gain with the summit at 6,436 feet

Trail distance: 3.8 miles round trip

Rated: Moderate to difficult

Latitude: 44.39972

Longitude: 121.28583

Directions: From Bend, follow Hwy 20 to Sisters. About 5.5 miles past Sisters, turn right on Indian Ford Camp Road. Travel 3.7 miles and then turn left on Forest Service Road 1110. Follow the gravel road as it winds up approximately five miles to the trailhead.

Fees: NW Forest pass