White Butte, North Dakota 3,506 feet

Climbed 7/02/2018

We summitted White Butte the day following our ascent of Black Elk Peak. We turned left at Bear Butte outside of Sturgis South Dakota and headed straight north. And I do mean straight.

The direct route

After a few hours of driving across the Great Plains, we saw the hills with the chalky bentonite clay that gives White Butte its name.

White hills above the plains

We pulled off the highway and drove on gravel roads toward the hills. We parked next to a fence at the edge of the landowner's property. We walked alongside the fence through pastureland toward the highpoint. The grass and wildflowers shone under the big sky, with grasshoppers and lowing cattle providing the soundtrack.

Mike under the big sky

We passed through a gate that separated the pasture from the more rugged hills and started climbing. The trail traced a gully through the white clay, leading to views across the plains.

Evelyn scales the white cliffs

The total climb to the summit was about one mile with 400 feet of elevation gain.

Our 44th highpoint

On our way up White Butte, we came across a closely packed herd of cattle, and Mike wondered why they stayed so close together. We got an unfortunate personal demonstration of the answer, as we learned during our drive back to South Dakota.

Fly bites!