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Maude S Canyon Loop
Butte, Montana
September 6, 2023
Distance: 6.6 km (4.1 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 300 m (984 ft)
Butte is home to the fourth largest statue in the US, but a bigger draw for Dinah and me is nearby Maude S Canyon Loop. The short hike would be a welcomed break from our long drive that day. The trail runs two loops joined by a short path. We completed the hike by keeping right.
From the parking lot, we followed the trail as it runs up the lower slopes of the Continental Divide. Eventually, it turned and started up the right side of a canyon. Trees were few, so we could view the valley behind us as well as nearby boulder-strewn meadows.
The trail tops out on the ridge where it intersects a trail running up to the Continental Divide Trail. It may seem attractive to reach the Divide, but the dense forest on the upper slopes prevents any views. We continued along the loop. We reached a modest, open bump, a summit of sorts, where I took a panorama. We could see Our Lady of the Rockies, although the 27-m statue was too far to discern details.
We continued down the trail with the town of Butte spread out in front of us. We returned to our car, refreshed from our short, pleasant outing and ready to continue driving.
Starting on the trail
The trail leads to the saddle on the right
After the train tracks, the trail forks and we kept right
The trail continues wending right
Thistles provided colour in the fading days of summer
The trail finally begins climbing the ridge
We passed barrels whose purpose we couldn't guess
The trail ascends the right side of the canyon
Looking back
Dinah appears in the centre
Looking back at the forested Continental Divide
Dinah stops to read a trail sign (mouse over to read)
The trail heads to the bump on the left
Our Lady of the Rockies can be seen on the far left ridgetop
A close look at the 27-metre statue of the Virgin Mary
Next to Butte is an open pit copper and molybdenum mine
Standing on a high point
Heading down
Nice views to the west
The trail runs through a boulder-strewn slope
Almost back at the trailhead. The hill in the centre is Big Butte.
Homestead Topo (4.1 mi, 6555 ft, 942 ft)