Mountain wilderness landscape (photo not yet available for this specific peak)
Representative photo — not Brushy Butte

Brushy Butte

3,366 ft | 1 trails | Texas

Elevation

3,366 ft

Trails

1 routes

Difficulty

Easy

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About Brushy Butte

At 3,366 feet, Brushy Butte is a summit in Texas. The Brushy Butte Trail covers 5.8 miles round trip (out-and-back) with about 128 feet of elevation gain — a gradual walk with modest climbing.

Getting There

The trailhead is at 34.96199, -101.66725 (tap for driving directions). It's roughly 245 miles east of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Arrive early on weekends — trailhead lots at popular peaks fill quickly, and cell service is often unreliable once you leave the highway.

When to Go

October through April is the comfortable window here — summer temperatures at this elevation are dangerously hot, so if you must hike in summer, start at first light and carry more water than you think you need.

Know Before You Go

The Easy rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 2.0 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains and a saved route works offline in any GPS app. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Looking to link objectives or plan a weekend? Nearby summits include Cooley Butte, Wolf Mountain and Coyote Bluff — each has its own guide on this site.

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Check Current Conditions

Trail conditions change frequently. Check the official land manager's site (linked under Data Sources on this page) and the NWS forecast before your hike.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to hike Brushy Butte?

The Brushy Butte Trail is 5.8 miles round trip with about 128 feet of elevation gain, and most hikers take roughly 2.0 hours of moving time. Add time for breaks and conditions — winter or wet weather can double the trip.

How hard is the Brushy Butte hike?

It's rated Easy using the National Park Service difficulty formula (5.8 miles round trip, 128 ft of gain — about 0 ft of climbing per mile). The elevation profile on this page shows exactly where the steep sections fall.

Where is the Brushy Butte trailhead?

The trailhead is at 34.96199, -101.66725 in Texas. Use the driving-directions link in the Getting There section above, and note that parking at popular trailheads fills early on weekends.

Are dogs allowed on the Brushy Butte trail?

Rules vary by land manager — national parks often prohibit dogs on trails, while most national forests allow them on leash. Check with the managing agency for this trail before bringing your dog, and pack out waste.

When is the best time to hike Brushy Butte?

October through April. Summer heat at this elevation is dangerous — if hiking in summer, start at dawn and carry extra water.

How tall is Brushy Butte?

Brushy Butte stands at 3,366 feet (1,026 meters) in Texas.

Safety Information

Current Hazards

  • Normal hiking conditions
  • Check weather before departure

Turn-Around Time

3:00 PM

Plan to reach the summit by this time to allow safe descent before dark.

Essential Gear Checklist

* Critical items - do not hike without these

Emergency Contacts

Emergency / Search & Rescue

911

Summit Forecast

NWS Point Forecast →

In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.

Downloads

GPX works with Gaia GPS, AllTrails, Garmin, and more.

Nearby Peaks

Explore other mountains near Brushy Butte. Great for peak-bagging or planning your next adventure.

Peak Bagging Tip

Cooley Butte is only 1.8 miles away. Consider combining these peaks for a bigger day or overnight trip!

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