The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
If you're in search of rugged and challenging terrain for camping, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, or photography, you might want to consider making a stop at the 4,000-acre Black Butte Wilderness Study Area in Idaho. These are public lands, and the Bureau of Land Management is responsible for oversight of the property. Attractions within 100 miles of this location include the Sawtooth National Forest and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. A bit more than 100 miles from the study area is Massacre Rocks State Park.
Somewhere between 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, the Black Butte Wilderness Study Area was an active volcano. Evidence of this remains today in the form of a massive depression measuring about half a mile wide and between 80 to 200 feet deep. You can see a variety of fascinating lava formations inside this crater. The terrain is mostly desert rock consisting mostly of black and purplish-black basalt with an undersurface of brownish-red. The volcano is now inactive, but the geology it left behind makes for an ultra-challenging outdoor experience for people wishing to camp, hike, or hunt in the area.
You'll want to allow about an hour's time to hike to the crater and back on the Black Butte Crater Trail. The trail is not marked well, so be sure to bring an offline map or GPS with you. With an elevation gain of 187 feet, the trail offers no shade, so a sun hat and sunscreen are recommended. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to hike this trail.
Length: 2.8 miles
Intensity: Easy
Fishing and boating aren't among the activities recommended for the Black Butte Wilderness Study Area. However, you can enjoy these pastimes at other locations in and around the Shoshone, Idaho area. Check out Thousand Springs State Park if you want to fish for trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, Walleye, Kokanee, Tiger Muskie, or Sturgeon fish. This park offers an opportunity to view one of the best waterfalls in Idaho.
Black Butte Crater Trail is one of the most easily accessible places within the study area for viewing wildlife. Species that live in the region include turkeys, pheasants, geese, ducks, grouse, whitetail deer, mule deer, bears, moose, and elk.
Hunting is permitted in the wilderness study area with rules and restrictions. This region of Idaho is popular with moose, elk, deer, and pheasant hunters. Both whitetail deer and mule deer can be hunted. Hunters tend to frequent the lower slopes and westernmost areas of the Black Butte Wilderness Study Area.
Nature photographers are drawn to the varied terrain and the many lava formations present in the Black Butte Wilderness Study Area. Birders and wildlife enthusiasts also enjoy photographing the local deer, elk, moose, and bird species that frequent the area.
This area is of interest to many academics and scientists, including geology students, geologists, history students, and historians. Much can be learned about the past by studying the remains of the lava formations that are present there.
We're not aware of any developed RV campsites within the Black Butte Wilderness Study Area. However, RV camping is possible in this region of Idaho. One of your closest options for an RV campsite is the West Magic Resort, which is located in West Magic, Idaho. This facility is about an hour's drive from Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve and offers pull-through campsites and electricity hookups.
Another option is the Shoshone RV Park in Shoshone, Idaho. This pet-friendly facility offers pull-through sites, restrooms, showers, and electricity.
Dispersed camping is permitted on the public lands at the Black Butte Wilderness Study Area in the areas that are not designated as being closed to camping. Your stay on these premises must not exceed 14 days within a period of 28 consecutive days. If you have questions about camping in this area, you can call the local Bureau of Land Management office.
If you visit this area, come prepared for a remote backcountry excursion. The desert climate, rough lava, and steeply sloped terrain can be arduous to maneuver through.
It's advisable to plan your trip in the spring or fall. Weather conditions in summer and winter get uncomfortably extreme; it is brutally hot in the summer and miserably cold in the winter. You may encounter dramatic temperature changes from daytime to nighttime.
Keep in mind that the wilderness study area is only accessible by unmaintained two-track roads. As such, they may be challenging to navigate with a trailer or sizable RV.
Pack food, sun protection, and plenty of water. It's also useful to bring a physical map of the area or a hand-held GPS unit along with you. Before you embark on your trip, be sure to consult our blog for helpful, must-know information about BLM camping.
There are no trash cans or trash removal services available at the Black Butte Wilderness Study Area. When you hike or camp at this location, you must be proactive about picking up all your trash and bringing it with you when you leave.
The Black Butte Wilderness Study Area spans a distance of 4,000+ acres between Lincoln and Blaine Counties in Idaho. From the nearest city of Shoshone, Idaho, travel north for about 17 miles on State Highway 75. This location is not well marked on local area maps, so you might need help from a GPS to locate it. The latitude and longitude of the area are 43° 11' 3.0000" N and 114° 20' 44.0002" W.
Ready to visit the Black Butte Wilderness Study Area? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day of exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
