Don Nelsen - Feb 26, 2018 1:38 am Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2018
Beautiful day but a bit cold and windy
One of the steepest roads I've ever been on (save for a few in San Francisco.) Incredible views in all directions but watch out for a little poison oak as you scramble up to the highest point just north of the communication tower area. This was a legal visit with about 30 COHP folks.
ericnoel - Feb 19, 2018 4:30 am Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2018
Sutter Buttes
This was an arranged escorted visit for 22 COHPers.
Fletch - Feb 19, 2018 2:06 am Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2017
Good times with the cohp crew
Thanks to all!
trexkerry - Mar 1, 2015 10:41 pm Date Climbed: Feb 28, 2015
Great way to end the day
A day of bagging county HP's and Prominence Peaks (Sugar Pine, Bloomer and Chitterden) capped off by a fun 3/4 moon ascent of South Butte. RT time of about 2:15. In the dark we nearly missed the highpoint, climbing the wrong rock outcrop - would have hated to have to hike up the road again but luckily when we turned off our headlamps on the "summit" we noticed the higher rise only about 150 feet away.
Pharmacist - Feb 12, 2015 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2015
Quiet Night
Nice views with half moon.
mpjones - Feb 23, 2013 8:44 am Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2013
Night hike
There are way too many cars on Pass Rd. at 2 am. Really fed my paranoia.
Like others said, it is well worth the risk for the view. Was able to see Shasta, Lassen, and Snow Mountains, and plenty of the Northern Sierra from this splendid summit in the early evening.
mrchad9 - Jun 13, 2010 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Nov 15, 2008
Lovely Night Out
Very scenic and clear- fantastic views- incredibly windy on the summit. No lights needed with a huge full moon.
Jonodo - Mar 20, 2010 6:36 pm Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2010
Main Road
This would probably be a more scenic hike under a full moon but we did see lots of valley lights and there was some good stargazing.
If I were to do this, I'd wanna do it on (or around) a full moon, say in September.
It'd be all nice & still, & things would seem really serene on the way up & on the summit. I'll bet the views would be amazing from the top- of the other Sutter Buttes as well as the twinkling lights of all kinds of Sac Valley towns (Sac, Stockton, Vacaville, maybe even Manteca...).
Looking up at that tall antenna from the roadway, I'll bet there'd be all kinds of signs saying that there are elevated exposure levels due to the radio waves. Just looking at it, I'd expect the true highpoint to be across from the main radio tower.
I'd guess my ascent time would take around 1:22 (although I'd bet if someone were to put their minds to it, keep a good pace, & know where they're going, they could easily do it in under an hour), with a R-T time (gate-to-gate) of around 4 hours or so.
I'd probably have to call in sick from work the next day. Man, that would be great!... sigh
Matt Worster - Mar 13, 2007 3:54 pm Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2007
DMT method
My friend climbed it, but my friend had a hiking partner. All true.
waited in the car around 12 AM for fog and rain to lift. fell asleep and woke to a cop knocking on the window and bright beams of light. had to quickly make up a story about a long drive forcing us to pull over to sleep...then had to explain why we were dressed in hiking cloths (oops!). so I said we were on the way home from a climbing trip (quik thinking for so early in the AM), then he asked for ID and wanted to know why we were there if I lived in redding (kinda out of the way to pull over to sleep I guess). so I said I was dropping my partner off at a friends house in a town east of here. thank god he asked no more questions because I realized I didn't know names of any towns or if there were any. he left and we waited an hour to see if he'd return. we hiked/ran/stumbled most of the trip in the fog and rain, though hard due to no headlamps, but a full moon did shine through. tagged the top and ran/stumbled down.
Tough shit. Bite me. Nobody owns a mountain, even if it is surrounded by your back yard.
Bob Burd - Mar 16, 2006 7:47 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2006
from the south
Broad daylight, early morning. Probably more lucky than anything in not being caught. Combined with Carpenter Hill and Cobb Mtn highpoints. Trip Report
Route Climbed: Paved Road Date Climbed: November 25, 2005
The details are in the trip report. The last little bit along the tram route is very easy,
The odds that the State Park service ends up making a trail to the peak are about a million to 1, so there may never be a "good" way to access this interesting location.
Don Nelsen - Feb 26, 2018 1:38 am Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2018
Beautiful day but a bit cold and windyOne of the steepest roads I've ever been on (save for a few in San Francisco.) Incredible views in all directions but watch out for a little poison oak as you scramble up to the highest point just north of the communication tower area. This was a legal visit with about 30 COHP folks.
ericnoel - Feb 19, 2018 4:30 am Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2018
Sutter ButtesThis was an arranged escorted visit for 22 COHPers.
Fletch - Feb 19, 2018 2:06 am Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2017
Good times with the cohp crewThanks to all!
trexkerry - Mar 1, 2015 10:41 pm Date Climbed: Feb 28, 2015
Great way to end the dayA day of bagging county HP's and Prominence Peaks (Sugar Pine, Bloomer and Chitterden) capped off by a fun 3/4 moon ascent of South Butte. RT time of about 2:15. In the dark we nearly missed the highpoint, climbing the wrong rock outcrop - would have hated to have to hike up the road again but luckily when we turned off our headlamps on the "summit" we noticed the higher rise only about 150 feet away.
Pharmacist - Feb 12, 2015 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2015
Quiet NightNice views with half moon.
mpjones - Feb 23, 2013 8:44 am Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2013
Night hikeThere are way too many cars on Pass Rd. at 2 am. Really fed my paranoia.
McCannster - Dec 23, 2011 11:20 am
CA Co HP #24 or 25Like others said, it is well worth the risk for the view. Was able to see Shasta, Lassen, and Snow Mountains, and plenty of the Northern Sierra from this splendid summit in the early evening.
mrchad9 - Jun 13, 2010 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Nov 15, 2008
Lovely Night OutVery scenic and clear- fantastic views- incredibly windy on the summit. No lights needed with a huge full moon.
Jonodo - Mar 20, 2010 6:36 pm Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2010
Main RoadThis would probably be a more scenic hike under a full moon but we did see lots of valley lights and there was some good stargazing.
Diggler - Sep 26, 2007 2:35 pm
???If I were to do this, I'd wanna do it on (or around) a full moon, say in September.
It'd be all nice & still, & things would seem really serene on the way up & on the summit. I'll bet the views would be amazing from the top- of the other Sutter Buttes as well as the twinkling lights of all kinds of Sac Valley towns (Sac, Stockton, Vacaville, maybe even Manteca...).
Looking up at that tall antenna from the roadway, I'll bet there'd be all kinds of signs saying that there are elevated exposure levels due to the radio waves. Just looking at it, I'd expect the true highpoint to be across from the main radio tower.
I'd guess my ascent time would take around 1:22 (although I'd bet if someone were to put their minds to it, keep a good pace, & know where they're going, they could easily do it in under an hour), with a R-T time (gate-to-gate) of around 4 hours or so.
I'd probably have to call in sick from work the next day. Man, that would be great!... sigh
Matt Worster - Mar 13, 2007 3:54 pm Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2007
DMT methodMy friend climbed it, but my friend had a hiking partner. All true.
highice - Feb 8, 2007 3:54 pm
almost bustedwaited in the car around 12 AM for fog and rain to lift. fell asleep and woke to a cop knocking on the window and bright beams of light. had to quickly make up a story about a long drive forcing us to pull over to sleep...then had to explain why we were dressed in hiking cloths (oops!). so I said we were on the way home from a climbing trip (quik thinking for so early in the AM), then he asked for ID and wanted to know why we were there if I lived in redding (kinda out of the way to pull over to sleep I guess). so I said I was dropping my partner off at a friends house in a town east of here. thank god he asked no more questions because I realized I didn't know names of any towns or if there were any. he left and we waited an hour to see if he'd return. we hiked/ran/stumbled most of the trip in the fog and rain, though hard due to no headlamps, but a full moon did shine through. tagged the top and ran/stumbled down.
climbwild - Apr 15, 2006 6:23 pm
Illegal ascent and summitTough shit. Bite me. Nobody owns a mountain, even if it is surrounded by your back yard.
Bob Burd - Mar 16, 2006 7:47 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2006
from the southBroad daylight, early morning. Probably more lucky than anything in not being caught. Combined with Carpenter Hill and Cobb Mtn highpoints. Trip Report
Abraxas - Nov 27, 2005 3:46 am
Route Climbed: Paved Road Date Climbed: November 25, 2005The details are in the trip report. The last little bit along the tram route is very easy,
The odds that the State Park service ends up making a trail to the peak are about a million to 1, so there may never be a "good" way to access this interesting location.
McCannster - Jun 7, 2005 6:47 pm
Date Climbed: 1999I went on the tour that they had that leads almost to the top of North butte. We hiked through some valleys, too.
blmcclain - May 3, 2005 2:41 pm
Route Climbed: A theoretically existing paved surface Date Climbed: 1 May 2005In theory this would be a nice nightime climb following the proposed method by DMT. However, results of this escapade have yet to be published.
Dean - May 2, 2005 12:20 am
Route Climbed: from the south Date Climbed: Dec 3,2004Twas a nice friday evening when we strolled upward. Nuff said.
rgreene - May 1, 2005 10:35 pm
Route Climbed: DMT Method Date Climbed: 1 May 2005Fear the ninja warriors!
Wallylongridge - Sep 12, 2003 10:00 am
Route Climbed: The Road Date Climbed: Feb. 24 2002This is Private property so be careful when you go. Lots of cows and fenches to jump over, but this is the best view in all the central valley.