6 miles of hiking • 2000' elevation gain •
You say Maxwell Butte, I say Potato Hill.
I was planning on doing Maxwell Butte Friday, but the snow just wasn't going to cooperate. Started at Maxwell sno-park, but the snow was borderline concrete—super melty—and there were no tracks to make it any easier; I bailed after about a mile.
Instead, I booked it on up Potato Hill. This little hike starts at the Potato Hill sno-park, right at the prominent curve in the road over the pass. A sweet little hike, with nice views because of all the burn. This would make a nice beginner snowshoe—while there is about 1500 ft of gain, the grade is very gradual.
The weather could't have been better—60 degree temps on Santiam Pass! The only downside, of course, was soupy snowshoe postholing. The back side of the hill had some nice wooded areas to explore, allowing for an interesting loop.
Also, if you've never taken Rt. 20 down back through Albany, it adds about 10 miles, but is a very nice drive for a change.
