Butt Mountain
Map SatelliteButt Mountain is a remnant of the Pliocene volcano Mount Yana, which was one of the sources of the Tuscan formation in the region. On Butt Mountain and in the area to the northeast are various glacial features, including terminal moraines, lateral moraines, a glacial cirque and others. There is also a rock glacier in the area.
Several types of vegetation are present. In the lower areas, chaparral is dominant. In the middle elevations there is a mixed conifer forest with ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana, incense cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, and Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii. Atop the mountain the forest is composed of silver pine, Pinus monticola, red fir, Abies magnifica, and white fir, Abies concolor.
Integrity: Though there has been some logging, much of the area is relatively undisturbed.
Use: Research, educational, observational.
August 1977
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman