Home » BEGINNER BACKCOUNTRY: KWOLH BUTTE

BEGINNER BACKCOUNTRY: KWOLH BUTTE

Jay snowboarding down the Caldera of Kwolh Butte
Snowboarding the Caldera of Kwolh Butte

A butte that every Bend, Oregon local looks at on a regular occasion, but few venture up. With a charming caldera just waiting for your first tracks, this begginner backcountry adventure to Kwohl Butte is a day trip you won’t forget.

Details:

  • Distance: 9 miles
  • Time: 6 hours
  • Elevation gain: 3200+ ft (including the chairlift up)
  • When we went: March 11, 2022; 11:30
  • GPS for trail start: Turn in where the Cat Tracks merge
  • Can you ski back to the car?: No
  • Route Finding Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Physical Exertion Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Map
Fatmap of Kwolh Butte
Click on Map for Fatmap Link

Getting there: 

We parked at the Sunrise Lodge of Mt. Bachelor, and took the Sunrise lift and then Summit lift to start this adventure. If you don’t have a lift ticket, you can access Kwolh Butte via Edison Sno-Park. Mt. Bachelor has in the past allowed backcountry access by skinning up the East Catch Line but at the time of writing, that is closed. Always double check the current rules on their website.

Liz and Tyese checking out Kwolh Butte from Mt. Bachelor backside
Checking out Kwolh Butte from Mt. Bachelor backside

Whether you’re cruising down the backside, or skinning up the East Catch Line, you will enter into the backcountry in the same place. We headed in right around here. From here it looks like you may want to start skinning, but if you just came down the backside, just walk a few hundred feet carrying your board and you will get to more downhill. Hike around to the left of Tot Butte and you’ll find yourself on a small ridge. From here strap into your snowboard and have a blast! Continue to bear to your left as you head down so that you can arrive easily at the base of Kwolh. You will end up in a flat area and need to put your skins back on to get to the base of Kowlh Butte and then prepare for the up. 

Hiking Up Kwolh Butte:

This short hike up is not to be underestimated. It gets very steep and we highly recommend bringing crampons for your splitboard, and also crampons for your boots for the top. We did this trip without them, but it was much slower than it needed to be for that reason.

Jay and Tyese are almost to the summit of Kwolh Butte
Almost to the summit of Kwolh Butte

Once you do the final short boot pack to the summit, the views will be worth your effort. The caldera is nothing short of a blast! We had completely untracked snow as we jumped off the rim into the caldera. Do as many laps as you want, it’s just a short hike back up.

Jumping off the cornice into a caldera
Tyese jumping right in on her Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
Endless caldera runs on kwolh butte
Endless caldera runs on Kwolh Butte

Getting back to the car:

When you’re ready to head out for the day, choose your line down the butte, and if you stay to your left, you’ll run into the snow covered forest road where you can skin up and prepare to head back towards the resort.

This part of the day will take the most route-finding skills, and you’ll want to head back towards Mt. Bachelor’s get back trail.

Liz navigating back to Mt. Bachelor
Routefinding skills come in handy trying to navigate to the Mt. Bachelor get back trail from Kwolh Butte

See our map for our exact line of choice. When you hit the get back trail, if it’s before 3:30 and you have a ski pass for the day, cruise down the get back trail to Cloudchaser lift and hit up one more run. If arriving after hours, you’ll have to walk out from Cloudchaser lift back to the Sunrise Parking lot. Don’t worry, there’s a well maintained snow covered road to take you there.

PROS:

  • Beautiful Views
  • Easily accessible, especially with a lift pass. 
  • Backcountry Beginner Friendly

CONS:

  • Some route-finding skills will be needed 
  • A very steep section of ascent up the Butte

THE SPLIT DECISION:

Jay’s Take: “Definitely one of my favorite backcountry days. Not too much skinning, no one else around, and the stunning view of the caldera at the top is unforgettable. If I was to introduce a friend to backcountry adventures, this is where I would take them.”

Tyese’s Take:  “I absolutely loved this day! It felt like we had a backcountry playground all to ourselves, and popping back to the in-bounds of the resort felt like we had an epic secret day that nobody else knew about.”


Jay's Current Backcountry Gear

You help support Split Decision’s unbiased reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Dynafit Tour Wool Jacket
Dynafit Tour Wool Jacket
Merino Hoodie
$200
Union Explorer Bindings
Union Explorer Bindings
Feels like normal bindings!
$299
Vans Viaje Snowboard Boots
Vans Viaje Snowboard Boots
Crazy Comfortable
$341.93
Dynafit Radical Infinium Pant
Dynafit Radical Infinium Pant
Lightweight and Breathable
$270
Arc’teryx Proton LT
Arc’teryx Proton LT
Breathable Insulation
$299
Jones Solution Splitboard
Jones Solution Splitboard
Jay’s Splitboard of Choice
$629.96
Arc’teryx Beta Jacket
Arc’teryx Beta Jacket
Lightweight Workhorse
$350
Dynafit Tour Wool Jacket
Dynafit Tour Wool Jacket
Merino Hoodie
$200
Union Explorer Bindings
Union Explorer Bindings
Feels like normal bindings!
$299
Vans Viaje Snowboard Boots
Vans Viaje Snowboard Boots
Crazy Comfortable
$341.93
Dynafit Radical Infinium Pant
Dynafit Radical Infinium Pant
Lightweight and Breathable
$270
Arc’teryx Proton LT
Arc’teryx Proton LT
Breathable Insulation
$299
Jones Solution Splitboard
Jones Solution Splitboard
Jay’s Splitboard of Choice
$629.96
Arc’teryx Beta Jacket
Arc’teryx Beta Jacket
Lightweight Workhorse
$350

Tyese's Current Backcountry Gear

You help support Split Decision’s unbiased reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Ride Sage Boots
Ride Sage Boots
Medium Flex
$212
Patagonia R1 Techface
Patagonia R1 Techface
Breathable Insulation
$179
Patagonia Powder Bowl Insulated Pants
Patagonia Powder Bowl Insulated Pants
Waterproof Warmth
$265
Arc’teryx Alpha AR Jacket
Arc’teryx Alpha AR Jacket
Hardcore Protection
$599
Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
Epic Workhorse
$849
Union Explorer Bindings
Union Explorer Bindings
Feels like normal bindings!
$299
Ride Sage Boots
Ride Sage Boots
Medium Flex
$212
Patagonia R1 Techface
Patagonia R1 Techface
Breathable Insulation
$179
Patagonia Powder Bowl Insulated Pants
Patagonia Powder Bowl Insulated Pants
Waterproof Warmth
$265
Arc’teryx Alpha AR Jacket
Arc’teryx Alpha AR Jacket
Hardcore Protection
$599
Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
Epic Workhorse
$849
Union Explorer Bindings
Union Explorer Bindings
Feels like normal bindings!
$299
Ride Sage Boots
Ride Sage Boots
Medium Flex
$212
Patagonia R1 Techface
Patagonia R1 Techface
Breathable Insulation
$179
Patagonia Powder Bowl Insulated Pants
Patagonia Powder Bowl Insulated Pants
Waterproof Warmth
$265
Arc’teryx Alpha AR Jacket
Arc’teryx Alpha AR Jacket
Hardcore Protection
$599
Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
Epic Workhorse
$849
Union Explorer Bindings
Union Explorer Bindings
Feels like normal bindings!
$299

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