Elevation: 3,304 ft
Prominence: 114
This peak is not in the book. Published November 2022
Fossil Butte is located along ID-78 near the Snake River. The butte is located just off ID-78 and is entirely on BLM land. There is a badly-rutted 2-track road that leads to the base of the summit block. USGS Oreana
Fossil Butte as viewed from ID-78 to its southwest. Livingston Douglas Photo
Access
Fossil Butte Road (unsigned) is located 3.9 miles northwest of Oreana Road on ID-78. Park at the base of the road at its junction with ID-78 (3,234 feet). GPS coordinates: 43⁰06’05”N, 116⁰27’35”W.
Southwest Face, Class 3
The Climb
From the base of Fossil Butte Road, hike northeast up the rutted 2-track until it approaches a junction at the south end of the butte. Leave the road and bushwhack, then climb, directly to the summit. The terrain is sagebrush initially. The final push to the summit plateau requires a short, Class 3 climb up a headwall to reach the top of the summit block. Once atop the summit block, the high point is a short walk away. There is no summit cairn. The high point appears to be a large ground boulder. I saw nothing higher.
The sagebrush-covered summit of Fossil Butte. Livingston Douglas Photo
Additional Resources
Regions: SNAKE RIVER PLAIN
Mountain Range: Snake River Plain
Year Climbed: 2022
Longitude: -116.44749 Latitude: 43.10801