PEAK OF THE WEEK: This peak, located south of Talent, OR, stands just over 7,000 feet tall. Popular among residents of the Rogue Valley, Wagner Butte can be scaled via an approximately 10-mile out-and-back trail (Wagner Butte Trail #1011).
Noting little precipitation on the mountain, I recently went for a run to the top. I expected that the window of dry weather and warm temperatures would likely be short-lived. It would probably be my last chance to tag the top before 2026. After parking at the trailhead, I climbed through a dense forest of old Douglas fir, and traversed the site of a large landslide that had since been replanted with grass.
The final couple miles of the trail were very scenic, providing views of the Rogue Valley below. I appreciated seeing a few shrubby aspens along one small section. At the very top, the site of an old fire lookout was visible. According to the Forest Service, it was constructed in the 1920s and abandoned in the 1970s. It's important to note that, along the way to the summit, hikers pass an important junction that provides access to other arterial trails:
- The Wagner Glade Trail descends towards the Horn Gap Trail and Forest Service Road 2060, eventually dropping down into Ashland’s Lithia Park.
- The Split Rock Trail follows a rugged ridgeline and ties into the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
With these other trails available, opportunities for adventure from the Wagner Butte trailhead are numerous.
Conditions on the trail have seen recent improvement due to work from our volunteers. But more efforts are needed to remove fallen logs and keep this popular route open for local hikers.
Stay tuned on our social media, email newsletter, and calendar (siskiyoumountainclub.org/pages/calendar) for more info on future trips to this area! We’d love to have you along, no matter your level of trail work experience.
In the meantime, contact trevor@siskiyoumountainclub.org to voice your interest in visiting Wagner Butte in 2026!
Public lands today, tomorrow, and forever.
