| Steptoe Butte State Park is a 150-acre, 3,612-foot-tall natural monument. The thimble-shaped monument looks over the flatlands of the area. The butte is constructed of quartzite and looms over the surrounding terrain. Hawthorne brush abounds in the park, and was widely used by local Indians for the making of medicines, baskets and other essentials. The park is famous for its stark, dramatic beauty and the panoramic view it provides of surrounding farmlands, the Blue Mountains, and other neighboring ranges and peaks. From the top of the butte, the eye can see 200 miles. Interpretive signs provide information on the butte and surrounding mountain ranges. A sign interpreting the history of the Cashup Hotel, which once stood on top of the butte, is also featured in the park. The park offers seven unsheltered picnic tables and four braziers for cooking; all are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Besides opportunities for picnicking and socializing at the park there are also many opportunities for wildlife viewing in the area. Animals that are often spotted at the park include chipmunks, coyotes, deer, elk, and rabbits. Visitors who are involved in the sport of bird watching will not be disappointed to observe the hawks, pheasants, quail, woodpeckers, and wrens of the area. Native Americans called the butte "the power mountain." It was believed that a journey to the butte bestowed a gift of power from the mountain's guardian spirit. The butte's present name honors Colonel Edward Steptoe, who gave years of service maintaining peace in the region. His men were killed in a conflict, which he tried to prevent, with Native Americans. |
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