Black Butte via Big Hollow Trail in Dixie National Forest, UT

Hike Black Butte via Big Hollow Trail Dixie National Forest, UT

Class 1 9.2 miles 2200 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back May 14, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Black Butte via Big Hollow Trail GPX Track

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Black Butte is a large hump in Dixie National Forest that attracts few visitors. When accessed, it's usually done as a near-drive-up via the good dirt roads leading to its base. I was hoping to get a nice hike out of the day, choosing to attempt the poorly-documented Big Hollow Trail, hoping it wasn't too overgrown to be fun. Fortunately it's in great shape! Although this isn't an epic hike by any means, it's likely you'll be alone for its duration, and the trail has lots of cool little highlights. Google was able to get me to the trailhead, but I recommend making one amendment. Big Hollow Road splits here (37.60155, -112.4225), but make sure to keep right at the fork since the left road is in bad shape. Aside from a couple of washouts along the road earlier on after leaving pavement, the entire road is in very good shape (high-clearance still required to get over these washouts). The last couple of miles starting here (37.5921, -112.40999) get a bit more rough. You could also drive an extra half mile or so to the official trailhead past where I parked, but I didn't like how narrow the road was becoming and was content to walk this section.

The trail begins by paralleling the Big Hollow drainage via a trail with the same name. It's in great shape and seems to be maintained somewhat regularly. I reached a junction with the Camp Eli Trail, which heads to the right. I took this trail, leaving the Big Hollow Trail and ascending next to a drainage. The trail became more steep and had some eroded sections, but was still very good and easy to follow. After gaining about 600 feet of vertical from the junction, the trail mellowed out and entered a forested area, passed a trough, and then crested a ridge where it intersected with the Grand View Trail. It might take a second to locate the Grand View Trail, which leads directly east up the ridge crest. If you start descending, you've gone too far.

Once I was on the Grand View Trail, I continued to have no issues with following the route. Orange and white eroded hoodoos became visible along the clff bands to the north, a more subtle version of nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument. The views become more expansive as I ascended to Forest Road #106 above. FR 106 was only a short segment of the hike, since the Grand View Trail veered off and followed the ridge crest, while the road continued skirting around the south side. Unfortunately the Grand View Trail continued as a narrow double-track, but the views were nice enough that I didn't mind much. More pretty hoodoos appeared to the north and soon I was just below Black Butte's summit, though a couple hundred feet below and to the west.

The Grand View Trail doesn't lead to the summit, nor does any road or trail. Instead, I left the Grand View Trail and ascended through the forest on steep terrain (some might say Class 2, but it's just a short, steep section). A few hundred feet of easy bushwhacking got me to the high point, but the views were all obscured by trees. I returned the same way I came up.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Black Butte
9560 ft
1740 rise

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I parked before the road got too narrow and walked.
I parked before the road got too narrow and walked.
The road parallels Big Hollow, seen on the right.
The road parallels Big Hollow, seen on the right.
The trailhead for the Big Hollow Trail. You can drive to this point if you choose.
The trailhead for the Big Hollow Trail. You can drive to this point if you choose.
Along the Big Hollow Trail.
Along the Big Hollow Trail.
Forested and with small views toward the eroded sandy cliffs typical for the area.
Forested and with small views toward the eroded sandy cliffs typical for the area.
Big Hollow Trail.
Big Hollow Trail.
I reached a junction. Left leads up the Big Hollow Trail, but I stayed right to take the Camp Eli Trail. Fir about 50 feet it might be hard to locate the start of the Camp Eli Trail as it crosses the drainage.
I reached a junction. Left leads up the Big Hollow Trail, but I stayed right to take the Camp Eli Trail. Fir about 50 feet it might be hard to locate the start of the Camp Eli Trail as it crosses the drainage.
Along the Camp Eli Trail.
Along the Camp Eli Trail.
View back along the Camp Eli Trail.
View back along the Camp Eli Trail.
The trail becomes a bit more steep as it parallels the drainage.
The trail becomes a bit more steep as it parallels the drainage.
Making progress up the Camp Eli Trail.
Making progress up the Camp Eli Trail.
The trail wraps up and around a small dryfall, seen below.
The trail wraps up and around a small dryfall, seen below.
More ascending. The trail seems to be maintained fairly regularly, deadfall cut recently.
More ascending. The trail seems to be maintained fairly regularly, deadfall cut recently.
The trail mellows out a bit higher up and ascends through a small meadow and some forest.
The trail mellows out a bit higher up and ascends through a small meadow and some forest.
An old trough.
An old trough.
View back along the Camp Eli Trail, shortly before reaching the junction with the Grand View Trail.
View back along the Camp Eli Trail, shortly before reaching the junction with the Grand View Trail.
Junction with the Grand View Trail. Stay left here. Finding the trail might be a bit hard for about 50 feet, but it follows the ridge crest.
Junction with the Grand View Trail. Stay left here. Finding the trail might be a bit hard for about 50 feet, but it follows the ridge crest.
View back down along the Grand View Trail back toward the junction below somewhere.
View back down along the Grand View Trail back toward the junction below somewhere.
Grand View Trail, some nice views toward the typical red/white eroded hoodoos of the area.
Grand View Trail, some nice views toward the typical red/white eroded hoodoos of the area.
Another shot back along the Grand View Trail.
Another shot back along the Grand View Trail.
Ascending along the Grand View Trail.
Ascending along the Grand View Trail.
Just before reaching the Forest Road above, a final shot back.
Just before reaching the Forest Road above, a final shot back.
A short hike along the forest road. Keep an eye out on the left for where the Grand View Trail pops back in.
A short hike along the forest road. Keep an eye out on the left for where the Grand View Trail pops back in.
Grand View Trail, but it's now doubletrack.
Grand View Trail, but it's now doubletrack.
Along the Grand View Trail, Black Butte up there somewhere.
Along the Grand View Trail, Black Butte up there somewhere.
Along the pleasant ridge, colorful hoodoos seen below to the north.
Along the pleasant ridge, colorful hoodoos seen below to the north.
Close-up toward the hoodoos along the cliffs.
Close-up toward the hoodoos along the cliffs.
Image 27 from gallery
The Grand View Trail passes right by the summit of Black Butte on the peak's west side.
The Grand View Trail passes right by the summit of Black Butte on the peak's west side.
I left the Grand View Trail to ascend to the summit. There was an old logging road that I followed for a few feet, but even this gave up and I had to ascend the steep slope.
I left the Grand View Trail to ascend to the summit. There was an old logging road that I followed for a few feet, but even this gave up and I had to ascend the steep slope.
View back toward the short, steep ascent from the trail to the summit. Grand View Trail is on the left somewhere.
View back toward the short, steep ascent from the trail to the summit. Grand View Trail is on the left somewhere.
Short bushwhack to gain the summit.
Short bushwhack to gain the summit.
Black Butte summit.
Black Butte summit.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!