WTA helped Little Pend Oreille develop a trail for refuge visitors in the 40,200 acre Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge 13 miles southeast of Colville. The loop trail starts at the Refuge headquarters and heads upward gaining 600 feet to the regional views from Mill Butte.
Approximately one-third of the route is on old road and rail beds through open ponderosa and lodge pole pine grasslands. Of interest along the way are large errata dropped by receding glaciers.
This is a great trail for a family adventure. Wildlife abounds, and the small creek and ponderosa forest provide plenty of distraction for little ones. The summit of Mill Butte is achievable via a short spur trail of just 0.13 miles. From the summit, the Kettle Range is visible, as are Calispell Peak, Old Dominion Mountain, and the Huckleberry Mountains.
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge - Mill Butte
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Length
- 4.5 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 600 feet
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Highest Point
- 2,619 feet
Hiking Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge - Mill Butte
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge - Mill Butte