Heather - Maple Pass Loop
2 days ago
Vibrant crimson and scarlet undergrowth
14 this month · 121 reports
Driveway Butte
North Cascades
updated 3 months ago
Driveway Butte Trail is currently featuring a profusion of spring wildflowers, with reports from May 14, 2025 and May 27, 2026 highlighting balsamroot, larkspur, and desert parsley. The trail has been recently logged and brushed, making for a pleasant hike with minimal blowdown to navigate as of May 31, 2026. However, there are a few muddy areas, particularly near McGee Creek headwaters. The trail to the summit offers amazing 360-degree views. A downed log may obscure the turnoff to Little Drive, but it's easily stepped over May 27, 2026. The road access is reported as suitable for all vehicles.
Generated from 10 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Driveway Butte
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 3 months ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 3 months, so everything below is at least that old.
The trail was described as freshly logged and brushed with no logs to climb over as of May 31, 2026. There is a downed log over the trail to Little Drive, but it is easy to step over May 27, 2026. There were many trees brought down by heavy snow in December prior to February 16, 2026, so it's possible some may remain.
A six-foot-long rattlesnake was reported on the trail near 4400' on June 24, 2026. Hikers should be aware of their surroundings.
There are a few muddy areas as the trail traverses the McGee Creek headwaters, noted on May 31, 2026. As of February 16, 2026, the intermittent creek crossing was covered in standing water and the area was muddy.
The road is reported as suitable for all vehicles as of June 24, 2026. Earlier reports mentioned a downed tree on the road, but it was easy to get by February 16, 2026.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older3 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Rattlesnake at about 4400' on a stump next to trail.Maybe 1 foot from my knee, while I was coming down to Klipchuck from Delancey Ridge.Saw some movement and turned back to look, and only then heard r...
Older3 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Come get this hike while the spring wildflowers are still present and you can enjoy the FRESHLY logged and brushed trail. When have I done a hike this year so far and not climbed over any logs? Toda...
Older4 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
We hiked to the summit of Little Drive. Trail was in great shape to the junction to go right and up to Little Drive. There is a log over the trail so that it might be easy to miss the turn if you aren...
Older7 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
My plan was to snowshoe up Klipchuck Road and then partway up the Driveway Butte Trail. With the temperature below freezing, the snow was firm in the tracks with very little postholing in boots. Out o...
Older16 months ago
North Cascades
Like WOW! It is like dejavú all over again. Flowers! Balsamroot, larkspur, desert parsley, Saskatoon, bitter cherry… Really I could go on and on. We ID’ed 58 flowers today! Driveway Butte has peaking ...
Older17 months ago
North Cascades
If you want flowers and views, this is one of the best in the Methow Valley. The cost is the trail (more later); the flowers and the emerging views sustain your commitment. I have used this trail si...
Older21 months ago
North Cascades
First, this trip had continuous snow with a depth of 8"-14".This snowshoe trip was primarily on Klipchuck Road with a couple of short excursions on parts of Driveway Butte and Early Winters trails. Th...
Older23 months ago
North Cascades
We caught a great weather window, as Ngie and I got up to both Driveway Butte, and Little Drive. We had lots of sunshine and warmer temperatures than what we expected. It got a little chilly up on top...
Older23 months ago
North Cascades
It had been several years since I had last hiked Driveway Butte. Last time it was very brushy with a dozen down trees and I was alone. This time I had a buddy join me and the trail was in excellent co...
Older23 months ago
North Cascades
Was a very steep hike, we camped around the 3 mile mark. Night one, Shortly after falling into a deep slumber we had a bear growling right at our tent door! Talk about exhilarating! The next morning w...