Potato Butte is a short climb with views in the Olallie Lake Scenic Area. Trail #719A leaves Red Lake Trail #719 at 4,880 feet near Sheep Lake and tops out at 5,280 feet, with several lakes nearby. Reach it by hiking 2.8 miles east on Red Lake Trail from Forest Road 4600-380, off Forest Road 46 east of Detroit.
The trail crosses flat scrub pine to a small meadow and pool, with a lake about 200 feet to the right. Then a very steep pitch with poor footing on volcanic soil leads up until the grade eases. A spur to the right reaches the spot known as the potatoes and a view of Mount Jefferson, and the summit looks north.
Trail map & elevation
- Trail class
- Class 1 of 5
- Typical grade
- 12-20%
- Surface
- Native material
- Tread width
- 18-24 inches
- Ranger district
- Clackamas River
Connects to: Red Lake Trail #719
Line, length and trail class: U.S. Forest Service trail data. Elevation: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Difficulty is our estimate for hiking it out and back (once around for a loop), from distance and total climb. Lines can be off by a few hundred feet; carry a real map and check the official page for closures.
Getting there
From Detroit, OR
- Go east on Forest Road 46 approximately 17 miles to Forest Road 4600-380.
- Turn right onto 4600-380 and travel 0.9 miles to the trailhead.
- There is no pullout or turnaround.
- Red Lake Trail #719 begins on the east side of the road.
- Follow Red Lake Trail #719 2.8 miles east to the beginning of this trail.
From Portland, OR
- Travel east on US Hwy 26 to Sandy.
- Turn right (southwest) on OR Hwy 211 and travel 6.1 miles to OR Hwy 224.
- Turn left (southeast) on OR Hwy 224 and travel 30.6 miles to Forest Road 46.
- Take the right fork onto Forest Road 46 and travel 26.5 miles to Forest Road 4600-380.
- Turn left onto 380 and travel 0.9 miles to the trailhead.
- There is no pullout or turnaround.
- Red Lake Trail #719 begins on the east side of the road.
- Follow Red Lake Trail #719 2.8 miles east to the beginning of this trail.
Trails nearby
Red Lake Trail #719
10.8 mi round trip
2,279 ft
Very hard
Lodgepole Trail #706
8.8 mi round trip
1,648 ft
Hard
Fish Lake Trail #717
5.4 mi round trip
845 ft
Moderate
Pacific Crest Trail (Clackamas RD)
22.8 mi round trip
3,032 ft
Very hard
Top Lake Trail #725
1 mi round trip
144 ft
Easy
Timber Lake Trail #733
1.2 mi round trip
84 ft
Easy
Olallie Lake Trail #731
4.8 mi round trip
110 ft
Easy
Monon Lake Trail #729
4.2 mi round trip
10 ft
Easy
Monolallie Trail #732
0.4 mi round trip
22 ft
Easy
Ruddy Hill Trail #714
0.6 mi round trip
373 ft
Easy