Skip to content

Elephant Butte

Elephant Butte, seen from above at true elevation

Elephant Butte rises to 2,244 m in Washington. Jack Mountain stands 2,763 m to the east, 12 miles off. The nearest named place is East McMillan Spire, a peak 2.9 miles away. JCT KEYSTONE FERRY ZONE WHIDBEY ISLAND TO JCT SR 153 VIC TWISP passes 6.2 miles off.

The story

Elephant Butte is a remote 7,380-foot-elevation summit located in Whatcom County of Washington, United States. It is situated within North Cascades National Park and Stephen Mather Wilderness, and is part of the Picket Range, a subset of the North Cascades. Like many North Cascades peaks, Elephant Butte is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 5,200 feet (1,600 meters) above McMillan Creek in one mile, and the south aspect rises 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) above Stetattle Creek in two miles. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the Skagit River via these two creeks. This geographical feature's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q55887613, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

What the record says

Elevation
2244 m

How to reach it

Coordinates48.79263, -121.21846

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
Waterfalls: 15
Cliffs: 3
Ghost towns: 3
Attractions: 2
  • "Old Number 6" Seattle City Light Locomotive: 8.3 mi
  • Shadow of the Sentinels: 24.2 mi
Historic sites: 2
  • North Cascading: 15.6 mi
  • Pacific Crest Trail Northern Terminus: 23.7 mi
Picnic sites: 2
Museums: 1
  • Gorge Powerhouse Visitor Gallery: 8.1 mi
Artworks: 1
Hot springs: 1
  • Baker Hot Springs: 20.8 mi
Parks: 1
  • Pressentin County Park: 21.0 mi

Other summits around it

The highest named summits within 13.9 miles of Elephant Butte. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Jack MountainE 96°2,763 m12.0 mi
Mount SpickardN 355°2,734 m12.3 mi
Mount RedoubtNNW 342°2,689 m12.0 mi
Ag PeakN 356°2,689 m12.6 mi
Mount CusterN 354°2,630 m13.6 mi
Northwest Mox PeakN 350°2,592 m11.0 mi
Solitude PeakN 354°2,562 m11.8 mi
Snowfield PeakSSE 161°2,545 m11.5 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:0818:3619:18
June solstice05:0220:2321:13
September equinox06:5218:2319:05
December solstice08:5616:1617:11

Local time (America/Vancouver).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F343741475560666660504034
Precip in12.37.48.24.62.72.31.31.53.48.613.711.6

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Diablo DAM, 6 mi away.

Inside the official boundary of North Cascades National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Dec and Mar; busiest: Jul.

NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidata

OpenStreetMap element node/356544854

More peaks in Washington

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Elephant Butte.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens