Steptoe Butte State Park is a three-acre (1.2 ha) heritage site on the southeast side of Rosalia in Whitman County, Washington. The state park commemorates the running battle that took place in 1858, at the Battle of Pine Creek, between American soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Edward Stept and Braid Spokane, Palouse, and Coeur d'Alene Native Americans. An explanatory sign in the park describes the progress of the battle.
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| Steptoe Butte State Park Washington |
Place Description
Steptoe Butte State Park covers an area of 150 acres. Within the park is a thimble-shaped remnant, about 3,600 feet high, that rises above the surrounding plains, offering astounding views of the surrounding landscape to visitors.
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| Steptoe Butte State Park Washington |
The park is known for its striking beauty and panoramic views of the surrounding agricultural land, the Blue Mountains and other neighboring expanses and peaks. From the top of the remnant, a view opens up to a range of almost 200 miles.
Steptoe Butte, a tall remnant in the Palouse Hills of southeast Washington, has provided a unique vantage point for countless generations. The remnant was once a great rock, about 400 million years old. The age of the rock, the ancestor of the remnant, contrasts strongly with the surrounding basalt masses 7-15 million years old. The high ground of the park was once known as Pyramid Peak, later renamed Steptoe Butte in honor of Colonel Edward J. Steptoe (born 1816-1865), who led the nearby Battle of Rosalia in 1858.
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| Steptoe Butte State Park Washington |
The hotel that Davis Keshap built stood on top of the hill from 1888 to 1908. A few years after closing, it burned to the ground. In 1946, Virgil McCrosky donated 120 acres (nearly half a square kilometer) of land to create Steptoe Butte State Park, which later expanded to 150 acres. Steptoe Butte State Park is now a recognized National Natural Landmark due to its geological significance.
A narrow paved road winds around the remnant and leads to parking spaces at the top. Popular activities in Steptoe Butte State Park include guided tours, hang gliding, kite flying and model aircraft. In addition, a large number of both amateur and professional photographs are taken here.