Just a little more info about Butterfield Hiking Trail....
I have hiked it twice, once with a friend and once solo. Both times I walked between 17.5-18 miles for the entirety of the trip. This includes some off-trail exploring at just about every opportunity I had. The BHT website states the trail is 15 miles long and All Trails lists it as 15.2 miles long. The trailhead is located in Devils Den State Park and a backcountry permit must be obtained at the welcome center. It's free, they just want to know who is on the trail. Don't forget to turn in your pass as you leave.
I have hiked the trail clockwise on both occasions. I will likely hike it in a counter-clockwise fashion next time so I can knock out the steeper part of the trail when my knees are fresh. I know trail difficulty levels are extremely subjective, but I would personally rate this as a "moderately difficult" trail. The reason I state this is because there is a fairly steep downhill section (uphill if hiking counter-clockwise) near the end of the trail with an elevation change of around 400' in less than half a mile of distance, and the trail is fairly rocky. The experienced hikers in the group will laugh at this. Those less experienced, like me, have to take it a little slower.
I have bad knees and going downhill is very tough for me, so I much prefer walking up-hill as often as possible. Others may welcome the downhill descent after a long day's hike. Hiking poles are very useful on this trail, especially as you get tired. There is a horse trail that bypasses this steep section, but I've never used it so I can't say it's better or worse. It looks much less steep on the topo map.
Walking clockwise, you will pass a couple of old homesteads and an old cemetery pretty quickly within the first couple miles, which is a pretty easy hike being a very slight incline until you get close to 74. Once you cross 74, you enter the Mark Twain National Forrest and that is when the views really start presenting themselves. The first dispersed campsite you come to is Rock Hole Camp around mile 7 and is right next to Blackburn Creek. A little further down the trail is Junction Camp where Blackburn Creek and Lee Creek converge. I have stayed at both and MUCH prefer Junction Camp. It's well off the main trail and I think the scenery is much prettier. One thing to note, the spur to Junction Camp has a fairly steep section about a quarter-mile long but the reward at the bottom of the hill is worth it!
The trail is blazed in blue and is fairly well marked but I would recommend you bring some form of navigation with you, either a map or a GPS enabled device. I always bring both, and a compass.
Water has been plentiful both times and I expect it will be next time also. I generally fill my water at the creek at the beginning of the trail, just enough for a drink and to cook lunch. You’ll pass a couple of waterfalls where water is present if you need more before coming to Blackburn creek for your next fill-up.
For those who might want to shorten the trip, you could do it a couple of ways. Going clockwise you can hike an easy hike to Rock Hole Camp, or until you are tired or ready to setup camp. Then, you could just back track out the following day. Going counter-clockwise you could attack the steeper section first and end at Junction Camp, then backtrack out the next day. If you plan on making it a 2-night trip, which I would highly recommend, I would think most could hike the entire loop pretty easily and without being rushed.
For myself, I rate trails based on access to water, not necessarily the difficulty of the trail. I HATE CARRYING WATER!!! I love this trail for the views, but water has been plentiful, so that makes me like it even more! ��
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Originally Posted by Sh4ggy
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