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20 – Squaw Butte Lookout

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More Information

Additional Info


Coordinates: 44.003596, -116.411531
Elevation: 5840 ft
Difficulty: 3
What to Expect: No info

[reblex id=’779′]

Check In

Use the form below to check in. Check-ins must include a photo of you or your bike at the challenge site with the 2025 bandanna. All participants must be registered IAMC Challenge Members. Leave a description of your ride and share road conditions — snow, water, obstacles, and tips for future riders are all appreciated.

Replying to another person's check-in is encouraged, but take care not to accidentally create your own check-in.

The stated difficulty is an estimate. Rating your experience helps future riders stay safe. You alone are responsible for the safety of your ride.

Check-Ins are Closed for the 2025 Challenge.

18 Check-Ins

October 12, 2025 4:04 pm
Bike: KLR
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Nice day. Cloudy but no rain. Beautiful views. I’d been up several years ago in a minivan. The KLR was more fun and less stressful!

August 6, 2025 6:55 am
Bike: DR650
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Nice cool day

Check-in photo
August 3, 2025 9:31 pm
Bike: KLR 650
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Great day for a trip up to Squaw Butte.

Check-in photo
August 3, 2025 4:04 pm
Bike: TW200
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Nice day for a ride to Squaw Butte from Caldwell. Gravel, washboards, a few ruts, and a couple spots were bumpy so better to stand. Pretty view. We haven’t been up here in quite a few years.

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July 27, 2025 1:24 pm
Bike: F650GS
Difficulty: 3 / 5

This is more of a 2 and a 2.8 at the top. A corolla could defo get up, but it might lose a few parts while being shaken by the washboard. The gravel was slippier on the way down than up. I took the F650 but could easily have taken the 1250GSA.

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July 12, 2025 1:15 pm
Bike: Africa twin
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Great ride this morning- loose gravel

Check-in photo
July 4, 2025 7:11 am
Bike: 2003 Suzuki DR650
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Boss let us out early, so up I went. A graded gravel dirt road with a short, steep, loose gravel section. Mostly a level 2, but I'll give it an easy 3 for the one spot.

Check-in photo
June 24, 2025 7:40 am
Bike: Triumph Tiger 900 RP
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Fairly easy for a 3. A couple of loose gravel spots but for the most part it was a very good road up. Great views!

Check-in photo
June 22, 2025 10:49 am
Bike: BMW R1250GSA
Difficulty: 2 / 5

I'm gonna say 2 for the most part and one stretch of 2.5, only because it was steeper with a little more loose gravel than the rest of it and I felt compelled to stand. Bike was a BMW R1250GSA with TMM's. I never had to use the clutch on the way up like I do if it's a 3. There were no rain ruts and I could turn the bike around pretty easily had I felt the need to. Great view at the top. I've been looking at SB for thirty years now and never been to the top. Thanks Challenge organizers for making it a checkpoint!

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June 15, 2025 6:26 pm
Bike: BMW R1250 GSA
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Views are awesome! Thanks for including this point in the IAMC Challenge.

Check-in photo
June 15, 2025 9:33 am
Bike: 12' Yamaha Super Tenere
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Made it up just fine although it was sorta dicey in spots due to low traction and sorta steep climbs on Dunlop missions. Also I thought I would make a loop of it and try continuing on past the other radio towers towards Jake's creek... bad idea. I got super lucky when Johnny from Gem County Motorsports came up the trail I was dragging my bike down and helped me get out of the spot I had gotten myself into.

Check-in photo
May 27, 2025 5:41 pm
Bike: Husqvarna 701LR
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Great day out with Alex. Agree...it's a solid three ride. Still green in the foothills so get out while you can.

Check-in photo
May 26, 2025 3:55 pm
Bike: R1200GS
Difficulty: 3 / 5

BEATUFIUL ride! I highly recommend getting up here while it's still green. Once you hit gravel it's an easy 2 until the last couple of miles where it's a doable 3. An intermediate rider on a large bike won't have too much trouble.

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May 17, 2025 7:46 pm
Bike: 990 Adv
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Just a wee bit soggy. Best view of Emmett you can imagine.

Check-in photo
May 17, 2025 5:29 pm
Bike: KTM 890
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Nutin but 1 big cloud today, no dust though

Check-in photo
May 17, 2025 1:15 pm
Bike: DR650
Difficulty: 3 / 5

Great ride up there! A wide gravel road, but it can get steep, rutted, and washboardy in spots. What a view at the top!

Check-in photo
May 9, 2025 4:27 pm
Bike: 690 EnduroR
Difficulty: 3 / 5

It is beautiful right now! And it is a pretty sketchy climb, in spots. You feel like you earned something at the top of this monumental Butte!

Check-in photo
May 4, 2025 8:52 pm
Bike: XT250
Difficulty: 3 / 5

What an amazing ride! I had never been there before, despite knowing about it for many years. It seems like a mini version of the Steens. And boy, today was super windy up there. The ride up the ravine is spectacular. Go while it's still green!

Check-in photo
Check-Ins are Closed for the 2025 Challenge.

18 thoughts on “20 – Squaw Butte Lookout”

  1. Nice day. Cloudy but no rain. Beautiful views. I’d been up several years ago in a minivan. The KLR was more fun and less stressful!

  2. Nice day for a ride to Squaw Butte from Caldwell. Gravel, washboards, a few ruts, and a couple spots were bumpy so better to stand. Pretty view. We haven’t been up here in quite a few years.

  3. This is more of a 2 and a 2.8 at the top. A corolla could defo get up, but it might lose a few parts while being shaken by the washboard. The gravel was slippier on the way down than up. I took the F650 but could easily have taken the 1250GSA.

  4. Boss let us out early, so up I went. A graded gravel dirt road with a short, steep, loose gravel section. Mostly a level 2, but I’ll give it an easy 3 for the one spot.

  5. Fairly easy for a 3. A couple of loose gravel spots but for the most part it was a very good road up. Great views!

  6. I’m gonna say 2 for the most part and one stretch of 2.5, only because it was steeper with a little more loose gravel than the rest of it and I felt compelled to stand. Bike was a BMW R1250GSA with TMM’s. I never had to use the clutch on the way up like I do if it’s a 3. There were no rain ruts and I could turn the bike around pretty easily had I felt the need to. Great view at the top. I’ve been looking at SB for thirty years now and never been to the top. Thanks Challenge organizers for making it a checkpoint!

  7. Made it up just fine although it was sorta dicey in spots due to low traction and sorta steep climbs on Dunlop missions. Also I thought I would make a loop of it and try continuing on past the other radio towers towards Jake’s creek… bad idea. I got super lucky when Johnny from Gem County Motorsports came up the trail I was dragging my bike down and helped me get out of the spot I had gotten myself into.

  8. Great day out with Alex. Agree…it’s a solid three ride. Still green in the foothills so get out while you can.

  9. BEATUFIUL ride! I highly recommend getting up here while it’s still green. Once you hit gravel it’s an easy 2 until the last couple of miles where it’s a doable 3. An intermediate rider on a large bike won’t have too much trouble.

  10. Great ride up there! A wide gravel road, but it can get steep, rutted, and washboardy in spots. What a view at the top!

  11. It is beautiful right now! And it is a pretty sketchy climb, in spots. You feel like you earned something at the top of this monumental Butte!

  12. What an amazing ride! I had never been there before, despite knowing about it for many years. It seems like a mini version of the Steens. And boy, today was super windy up there. The ride up the ravine is spectacular. Go while it’s still green!

Comments are closed.