Steptoe Butte
| Steptoe Butte State Park | |
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| Washington State Park | |
Steptoe Butte
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| Location |
Whitman, Washington, United States 3,612 ft (1,101 m) |
| Coordinates | 47°01′57″N 117°17′55″W / 47.03250°N 117.29861°WCoordinates: 47°01′57″N 117°17′55″W / 47.03250°N 117.29861°W |
| Area | 150 acres (61 ha) |
| Established | 1946 |
| Operator | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Website | Steptoe Butte State Park |
| Designated | 1965 |
Whitman, Washington, United States
Steptoe Butte is a quartzite island jutting out of the silty loess of the Palouse hills in Whitman County, Washington, in the northwest United States. The 3,612-foot (1,101 m) butte is preserved as Steptoe Butte State Park, a publicly owned 150-acre (61 ha) recreation area located 12 miles (19 km) east of Colfax. Steptoe Butte and Kamiak Butte comprise Steptoe and Kamiak Buttes National Natural Landmark.
The rock that forms the butte is over 400 million years old, in contrast with the 15–7 million year old Columbia River Basalts that underlie the rest of the Palouse. Steptoe Butte has become an archetype, as isolated protrusions of bedrock, such as summits of hills or mountains, in lava flows have come to be called "steptoes."
The butte was named after Colonel Edward Steptoe. A hotel built by James S. "Cashup" Davis stood atop the butte from 1888 to 1908, burning down several years after it closed. In 1946, Virgil McCroskey donated 120 acres (49 ha) of land to form the park, which was later increased to over 150 acres (61 ha).
A narrow paved road winds around the butte, leading to a parking area at the summit. The park offers picnicking facilities and an interpretive wayside exhibit. Popular activities include sight-seeing, hang gliding, kite and model airplane flying, and photography.
Steptoe Butte
Steptoe Butte
Shadow of Steptoe Butte from the summit
View from the top
Steptoe Butte from McCroskey State Park
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Wikipedia