Steptoe Butte and Steptoe Battlefield

Hubby and I took a road trip and visited Steptoe Butte State Park. This 3,612-foot butte is a wonderful place to visit and view the surrounding Palouse (a major fertile agricultural area; the most important lentil growing region in the USA). The steptoes, or hills, are formed from lava flows.

*Clicking on a photo will give you a closer look!

The butte is named after Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe.

Steptoe Butte is a popular area for hang gliders, kite flying, paragliders, model airplane fliers and sight seers.

From a photographer’s point of view, the best times to visit are sunrise and sunset, but the views are spectacular at any time of the day or season.

Nearby, one can also visit Steptoe Battlefield…a sober reminder of the Battle of Pine Creek, where a conflict between  US Army forces under Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe and members of the Coeur d’Alene, Palouse and Spokane Native American tribes took place.

The land did not look so pastoral then. It was not farmed; it was scrubland and native grasses.

Because of the many hills, it was also a difficult land in which to fight battles.

The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude. -Jeff Miller

*I am in no way condoning any conflicts with anyone, only commemorating every veteran’s loss of life in the performance of his/her duty.

God bless the veterans!