Entry No. 60 — the Spokane file — filed under: history
Steptoe Butte
A 3,612-foot quartzite knob jutting nearly a thousand feet above the otherwise rolling Palouse, Steptoe Butte is so old it is a geologic 'island' the surrounding lava flows never buried—the very rock that gave the word 'steptoe' to geology. In 1888 eccentric English homesteader 'Cashup' Davis built a lavish hotel with an observatory and telescope on the very summit; the crowds never came, it was abandoned after his death in 1896, and teens burned the ruin down in 1911. A spiraling road still climbs to the top for a 360-degree view over the wheat country.
The story
Long before floods of molten basalt poured over the region, this high ridge of quartzite stood tall over eastern Washington. When ancient lava flows smothered the surrounding landscape, the summit remained unburied, forming an isolated rock island jutting nearly a thousand feet above the silt and rolling wheat fields of the Palouse. Geologists were so struck by this anomaly that they borrowed the peak's name to invent a technical term: anywhere on Earth, an ancient mountain peak protruding through a younger lava flow is officially called a 'steptoe.' On a clear day from the top, you can look out 70 miles north to Mount Spokane while standing on rock far older than the terrain beneath it.
In 1888, eccentric English homesteader James S. 'Cashup' Davis decided this isolated high ground was the ideal location for a lavish multi-story hotel complete with an observatory and telescope. He hauled timber up the steep slopes to cater to sightseers, but the anticipated rush of wealthy patrons never arrived. Davis lived out his final days on the summit and died there in 1896, after which the empty hotel sat abandoned until local teenagers burned the structure to the ground in 1911. The mountain still holds ghosts of old human effort: botanists searching the slopes have even unearthed centuries-old apple trees on the summit's flanks, identifying rare historical varieties long thought extinct.
What it's like
The journey up is a slow 15-minute spiral along an exposed, narrow road with tight curves and no guardrails separating your tires from the slope. Once you step out at the peak, the wind can be brutal enough to slam car doors shut, so hold tight to your gear. You will likely find landscape photographers lined up to catch the long shadows shifting across the Palouse hills around sunset, but the 360-degree vantage leaves plenty of elbow room. Remember to display a Washington State Discover Pass before parking, and stick around until dark if you want an unfiltered view of the stars.
The move: Drive the spiral road to the summit at sunset and toast the long-gone hotel of Cashup Davis from the same viewpoint.
📍 Before you go A Discover Pass is required; the summit road is narrow and exposed, and wind at the top can be fierce.
- 📍 Oakesdale (near Colfax), WA
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Steptoe Butte State Park, Scenic Hyw, Colfax, WA
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Elberton Ghost Town — Just five miles away, you can descend into the hollow to wander the unpaved streets and abandoned ruins of a disincorporated 19th-century Palouse mill town.
- Artisans at the Dahmen Barn (Fence of 1,000 Wheels) — Head south toward Uniontown to pair panoramic natural geology with a historic 1935 dairy barn enclosed by a fence made from over a thousand salvaged farm wheels.
- Spokane Astronomical Society Star Parties at Fishtrap — If staring out at the horizon from Cashup Davis's former observatory spot inspires you, join local astronomers under dark skies in the scablands at Fishtrap Lake.
Good to know
Why is it named Steptoe Butte, and what does 'steptoe' mean in geology?
The peak is named for Colonel Edward Steptoe, but in geology, the word 'steptoe' came to mean any isolated hill or mountain of older rock that stands like an island out of a surrounding lava field.
What happened to the hotel that used to sit on the summit?
Built in 1888 by homesteader James 'Cashup' Davis, the resort featured a telescope and summit observatory. It failed commercially, fell into ruin after Davis died in 1896, and was burned down by teenagers in 1911.
Do I need a parking pass to drive to the top?
Yes, Steptoe Butte is a Washington State Park Heritage Site and requires a valid Discover Pass displayed in your vehicle.
How long is the drive up the mountain?
The spiraling paved road to the 3,612-foot summit takes roughly 15 minutes to navigate from the base.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · parks.wa.gov · spokesman.com · seattletimes.com · wa100.dnr.wa.gov · spokanehistorical.org
last checked: 2026-06-24