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Williams Butte
A quiet summit scramble above Mono Lake, no permit required
About
Williams Butte is the small pyramidal peak you'll notice rising just south of the Highway 120/395 junction near Lee Vining, and it's an easy half-day summit with some of the best low-effort views in the Mono Basin. At 8,287 feet, it's a modest climb by Eastern Sierra standards, but the payoff is a wide-open panorama: the Sierra crest and the June Lake peaks to the west and south, Mono Lake and the Mono Craters to the east.
Getting There and the Route
From the Highway 120/395 junction, head south about 2.7 miles and turn onto the dirt road climbing the butte's southeast slope (high-clearance recommended). Most hikers park around the 7,170-foot mark and go cross-country through scrub and scattered pines to a small saddle near 8,100 feet, then follow the ridge a short distance north to the top. It's a Class 1 walk-up with a short Class 2 scramble over the final summit rocks — no technical gear needed, and no permit required in the Inyo National Forest.
What You'll Find at the Top
- A small summit register tucked in the rocks — sign it if you make the top
- Unobstructed views of Mono Lake's tufa towers and the Mono Craters
- A close look at the Sierra Nevada escarpment rising just a few miles to the west
Plan on a few hours round trip. There's no maintained trail tread once you leave the access road, so bring a map or GPS track and expect some route-finding through open forest on the way to the saddle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Williams Butte a maintained trail?
No. It's a well-known informal route in the Inyo National Forest — a dirt access road followed by a cross-country walk through scrub and pines. There's no built trail tread, but the terrain is straightforward Class 1 with only a short Class 2 scramble at the summit.
Do I need a permit to hike Williams Butte?
No permit is required. It sits within the Inyo National Forest, outside the Yosemite wilderness permit system, so it's a straightforward day hike.
How long does it take to reach the summit?
Most hikers finish the round trip in a few hours, making it an easy half-day add-on to a Mono Lake or Lee Vining visit.
What kind of vehicle do I need for the access road?
The dirt road up the southeast slope is best suited to a high-clearance vehicle. If you're driving a standard car, park lower on the road and add some distance on foot.
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