Can you reserve a site at Big Southern Butte?

No. Big Southern Butte is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Big Southern Butte

Facility · Idaho ·

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management

Upper Snake Field Office (Bureau of Land Management ID) · Open Access

7,557 ft
Elevation

Big Southern Butte is one of two rhyolitic domes rising from a sea of basalt near the center of the eastern Snake River Plain (of the nearby Twin Buttes, East Butte is rhyolitic and Middle Butte is basaltic). The area supports lodgepole pine, aspen, Douglas fir, and manzanita (not common to this region).

The butte is one of the largest volcanic domes in the world but at 300,000 years old is also one of the youngest. Hikers who trek to the 7,550-foot high summit are rewarded with spectacular panoramic views.

Approximate season of use is mid-May through October, depending on snow levels and road conditions. The road is open to full-sized vehicles, but it is best traveled by ATV or UTV.

Please call the Upper Snake Field Office at 208-524-7500 for more information.

Getting there

From Arco: Take the Country Road/300 North heading south (this is signed as the 'Arco OHV Route'). Turn east onto Arco-Minidoka Road/2930 North. Turn onto 2900 West heading south and turn west onto 2150 North, turn north onto 300 West which turns into 2225 North. Turn onto the Arco-Minidoka Road heading south for several miles. Turn east onto Quaking Asp-Frenchman Road toward Big Southern Butte. At Frenchman's Cabin, turn and head up the Butte. From Idaho Falls/Pocatello: Take Highway 26 to Atomic City. Follow Main Street/Taber Road about 1.5 miles south and turn right onto a gravel road (W 1600 N). This semi-improved road passes around the north side of the Butte until it reaches a small landing strip, which was also an old stage coach stop. Turn and follow the road uphill. There is a place to park by the side of the gate if hiking.

43.39611, -113.02222 · 43°23'46.0"N 113°1'20.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 89°F in Jul, down to 28°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	28	33	46	57	67	77	89	87	76	60	42	29
Low °F	6	10	21	28	37	44	50	48	38	27	17	7
Precip in	0.7	0.5	0.6	0.9	1.3	0.8	0.4	0.4	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.7

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 10.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Add a photo

Common questions about Big Southern Butte

Can you reserve a site at Big Southern Butte?: No. Big Southern Butte is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Big Southern Butte

Loristica Group Campground 48.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Copper Basin Guard Station 50 mi · Campground · we watch it
Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site 51 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lava Flow Campground 27.3 mi · Campground
Twenty Mile Trail 31 mi · Facility
Iron Bog Campground 41.1 mi · Campground
Pipeline Campground 45.7 mi · Campground
Big Lost River Access Trail 47.2 mi · Facility
Copper Creek/Garfield Campground 47.7 mi · Campground
Loristica Group Campground 48.7 mi · Campground
Lake Creek Trailhead & Campground 51 mi · Campground
Birch Creek Campground 51.7 mi · Campground

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.