Schonchin Butte Lookout Trail

Discover this 1.5-mile out-and-back trail near Tulelake, California, featuring a 465 ft elevation gain. It's generally considered a moderately challenging route, taking an average of 55 minutes to complete. Popular for hiking, running, and walking, it offers moments of solitude, and its year-round availability makes it beautiful anytime. However, please note that dogs are not allowed on this trail. As you ascend steadily to the summit of a cinder cone, you'll reach a fire lookout tower with breathtaking views of the monument and the surrounding basin. During the summer months, you can visit this charming structure, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. To help prevent erosion, please stay on the designated trail and avoid shortcutting switchbacks.