![\"Button](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Button-Rock-Mountain.jpg\")
<\/a>Button Rock Mountain and Preserve from Coffintop Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n
Access is not difficult, but good navigation is required. I suggest using USGS topo maps \u2013 Google maps are incomplete in the area. The forest has several jeep roads, plus secret mountain bike trails. Many of the roads are currently closed to vehicles due to damage from the 2013 floods, but the route to Button Rock Mountain<\/a> is in good condition and is open to hikers.<\/p>\n Drive up US 36 to Pinewood Springs, and continue to the junction with road 47. This road has been partly rebuilt following the devastating floods, but it\u2019s not paved – caution is advised. Follow 47 up to the marked cutoff to Johnny Park. Turn left, and if you have enough clearance, drive up the eroded road to the Coulson Gulch Trailhead \u2013 otherwise park off the road, and walk up to the trailhead. This trailhead serves as a gateway to a huge area of the National Forest, and almost anything can happen here. People camp, build fires, hang out, drink, take drugs, shoot guns, go hunting, and ride bikes, ATV\u2019s, jeeps, or whatever. Park but don\u2019t leave anything valuable in your car. Hike up the gated Forest Road 118 leading east from the parking area. This road quickly climbs up to a plateau at about 7800 feet. Button Rock Mountain looms up to the east. Follow the road around the plateau, or short-cut northeast across it on a path, and continue northeast and down to a saddle at 7600 feet.<\/p>\n Continue east on a gated road leading from the saddle; follow this road up a rocky ridge and into the saddle valley north of Button Rock Mountain. The practical way up the mountain is to hike to this broad saddle, and then pick a route up the relatively gentle north side of the mountain. \u00a0Don\u2019t head south and up too soon – continue far enough east to pass the steep rocks on the northwest side of the mountain. From the saddle, it’s easy to find a reasonable route up the north slopes. There is no marked route, there are fallen trees, and there are old forestry-maintenance trails that may or may not be useful. Part way up you\u2019ll find a lovely secret mountain bike trail that has been artfully built up the northeast side of the mountain. This route leads up near the summit, but it has so many curves and switchbacks that it’s not an efficient hiking route. Just head up through the open woods, and you\u2019ll be on the large summit plateau before you know it.<\/p>\n Note that the actual \u201cButton Rock\u201d is not the summit, nor is it on this route. \u00a0Button Rock lies well to the northeast of Button Rock Mountain. \u00a0Also note that many people use the term “Button Rock” to refer to the Button Rock Preserve<\/a> or to Ralph Price Reservoir in the Preserve.<\/p>\n Finding the actual summit is tricky. Cairns lead through the pleasant, open woods along the ridge near the top. A GPS with maps will get you very close. There are several large rock outcrops in the huge Activation Zone, and the western-most crag appears to be the real summit. This point is well-hidden by trees and is the only one with a really good view! A short scramble leads to the top. There is a cairn and register jar top, suggesting that this rock is the summit.<\/p>\n\n\t\t