Elevation: 5,940 ft
Prominence: 240
This peak is not in the book. Published December 2019
Rocky Butte is an unranked summit just W of [ranked] Gilman Butte. It is a rocky outcrop, not a typical flat-topped butte. Rocky Butte is located on the south side of Croy Creek Road and Gilman Flat, due west of Bellevue, ID. It is a fun scramble from a saddle to its west on Rock Creek Road. There is a lot of private land in this area, so consult the BLM Fairfield map before tackling this climb. Beware of rattlesnakes and copperheads in this area. USGS Bellevue
The summit cairn atop Rocky Butte, looking NW across the ranch land of Gilman Flat. Livingston Douglas
West Face, Class 2
Date of Climb: June 6, 2019
Access
From the junction of ID-75 and Bullion Street in Hailey, ID, drive W on Bullion Street/Road for 4.6 miles to a signed junction with Rock Creek Road. Turn L/S on Rock Creek Road and drive 1.4 miles to a saddle just W of Rocky Butte. The elevation here is 5,580 feet.
The Climb
From the saddle, scramble E up a mix of scrub and talus/scree to reach the narrow, rocky summit. There is a nice cairn on top and a magnificent view of the ranches in Gilman Flat.
East Face (Descent), Class 2
Access
Same as for the West Face Route
The Descent
From the summit, descend E down the scrub and talus/scree face to reach a gentle saddle at the base of the East Face. There is some rock scrambling near the summit, but this is mostly a descent down easy scrub. Be on guard for snakes hiding in the rocks and grass. The saddle connects Rocky Butte to nearby Gilman Butte.
Additional Resources
Regions: Smoky Mountains->WESTERN IDAHO
Mountain Range: Smoky Mountains
Longitude: -114.37569 Latitude: 43.45529
