Malheur N.F.

Dixie Butte is a cone-shaped butte rising to an elevation of 7592' amidst dense conifer forests about 26 miles northeast of John Day, Or. Although volcanic in appearance, it actually consists of eroded prehistoric seafloor sediments some 200-250 million years old. A forest service look out, manned during the summer is located at its top, and a rough dirt road leads to the summit.

Access to Dixie Butte is via US Highway 26, proceeding steeply uphill and northeast from Prairie City, OR or proceeding east from Baker City, OR or Ontario, OR. Upon reaching the Dixie Summit, one turns north onto dirt roads and proceeds uphill about 5 miles on forest road 2610. Low bottom cars will need to beware. It is easy to bottom out or blow a tire on the numerous, baseball-sized rocks on the road. At the base of the butte, you will come to a clearing, with a road descending the southwest slopes of Dixie Butte. This is a good spot to park. One can then amble either along the road or on the slopes to the east of the road, viewing many wildflower species (See list below.). The summit, especially the western edge sports numerous natural rock gardens, and the 360¾ views include the Strawberry and Aldrich Mts to the southwest, the Monument Rock Wilderness to the southeast, the drainage of the Middle Fork John Day River immediately below to the north, with views further northeast to the Vinegar Hill and Indian Rock Scenic Area and the Elkhorn Mts.

Access by vehicle is limited from late May (at the earliest) to late Fall due to snowfall. I'm guessing that good wildflower displays normally begin in mid to late June extending into July.

Dixie Butte affords a good selection of wildflowers due to the varied habitat. The summit supports rock garden plants such as Castilleja glandulosa, Stenotus languinosus, Eriogonum flavum, Polygonum phytolaccaefolium, Heuchera cylindrica var. alpina, and Erigeron compositus. The dry lower slopes support such species as Erigeron eatonii, Penstemon attenuatus, Pedicularis contorta var. contorta, Swertia radiata, Heuchera cylindrica var. glabella, Arabis holboellii, Arenaria aculeata, and Allium tolmiei . The lower forests support a different set of plants.

July 4, 2002 Dixie Butte

Paul Slichter