Steptoe Butte

DN17ia

(last update September 15, 2001 )

General.  This site is on an 1100' butte NE of the town of Steptoe on state highway 195, south of Spokane.  The average terrain is about 2000', so the total height is about 3100".  There is a state park located approximately two miles away.  There are no gates on this location.

There is a small hotel located in Steptoe that also has an RV park behind it.  As of 8/01, their rates are $35 for a single, and $39 for a double (two double beds).  A full RV hookup, complete with cable TV costs $15, $18 for a pull through site. (Wheel Inn, Inc. P.O. Box 18, Steptoe, WA 99174. (509)397-9195. 1-(888)397-3195. hartleys@colfax.com ) 

This is an ideal location to start or end a rover operation. You CANNOT BELIEVE the shot in all directions from the top of the butte. There are no obstructions other than some microwave towers that are easy to work around.  The RF levels are low and cause no problems.  Expect a lot of traffic - people drive up there just to see the view.  Per the signs at the top of the butte, some looney built a hotel on top of the butte back around 1900. It gives a guy fantasies about running a mountaintop operation - complete with room service!!!

Driving Instructions:  

-  From Steptoe go east on Schultz Road at Hartley’s Wheel Inn, past the brick school on left .

-  Go 1.9 miles and turn left on McCroskey Road, go 1/4 mile to a "Yield" sign, then continue straight heading NE, (McCroskey seems to merge with Hume Road, but don’t worry, you can’t miss on this one).

-  Go 3.9 miles until you see a sign that says "Steptoe Butte Park", and make a hard left towards the mountain.  On the way to the top of the butte you go through a small public park, complete with restrooms. There are no facilities at the top of the butte, so bring your own....

Note: You dip into DN16 while on this route.

These pictures were taken in August 2001 during the UHF contest.

    These pictures were taken during the 2001 September VHF contest.