Hoping to visit Big Butte Lookout, we drove up the bumpy but passable Forest Road 170 and parked a short distance from a locked gate across the road bearing a "Road Closed" sign. Evidently the adjoining barbed wire fence has been repaired since WTA's description was written as it now prevents access beyond unless one is willing to climb over the fairly high fence.  We decided not to trespass.

Although disappointed not to reach the lookout, or even see it (it's obscured by trees), we were amply compensated by the scenic drive along FR 4304 between Wickiup Campground and the FR 170 turnoff. The views east to Idaho's Craig Mountains and south to the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon are stunning. It's worth stopping to stretch your legs at the picturesque Wenatchee Guard Station built in 1933 by the CCC and now available to rent from the US Forest Service.

Walked up to Big Butte today and poked around.

Lookout is still sitting on the ground. Some wildflowers are blooming, and there’s a bit of snow nearby down the road (more than last year around this time). The hillside is a lot greener this year, which made for pretty scenery on the drive up (gotta love those hairpins from Asotin!). Not sure how much longer the snow might last, given that it was mostly just present on the road, but hopefully the area won’t be as affected by fires this year…

Visited Antoine Butte afterwards and looked at the Mount Misery Mushroom Hunting map! Will have to revisit sometime in the mid-fall to go scouting around 🍄!

This is a lookout at the eastern end of the Blue Mountains near Anatone in Asotin County. The road is suitable for any car in summer but is presently covered in compact snow. I used chains after turning off of Mill Rd. 

Big Butte Lookout was once on an 82' treated timber tower but a tree fell on one of the supporting guy wires in the winter of 2011 and damaged one of the legs of the tower. The tower structure was removed and the lookout was lowered safely to a few feet above the ground. 

Trees obscure most of the view on top but the road up has excellent views all the way down to The Wallowas and west to the higher ridges of the Blues. 

There are several ways to get here but I came up from the town of Anatone via Mill Rd (a sign says 8.1 miles to Big Butte) and then left on W Mountain Rd at 1.8 miles. This becomes FR-4304. At 7.6 miles from Anatone arrive to FR- 170. This road will take you up to a gate and the walk is only about .5 mile each way. I used snowshoes up from FR-4304 for about 3/4 a mile walk each way.