Cooley Butte

At 3,376 feet, Cooley Butte is a summit in Texas. The Cooley Butte Trail covers 2.7 miles round trip (out-and-back) with about 482 feet of elevation gain — a gradual walk with modest climbing.

The Route

Most of the climbing comes early — the first half of the route does the bulk of the work before the grade eases. The steepest stretch arrives around mile 0.86, gaining roughly 1,200 feet per mile — expect a slow, deliberate pace through here. From the trailhead at about 2,949 feet, the route tops out near 3,399 feet. Along the way the route passes a viewpoint (CCC Overlook) near mile 1.34 — useful checkpoints for judging your pace.

Getting There

The trailhead is at 34.97669, -101.68039 (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 Moderate rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 1.0 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 Brushy Butte, Wolf Mountain and Coyote Bluff — each has its own guide on this site.