"R" Mountain

The North Menan Butte, or "R" Mountain is a well-known landmark in southeast Idaho for its size and uniqueness. The mountain is known as “R” Mountain by locals because of the large “R” painted on its side for Rexburg, Idaho. "R" Mountain, however, is not actually a mountain but rather an extinct volcano.

Hiking up "R" Mountain at anytime provides a spectacular view of the Snake River Valley and Snake River. However, the most amazing time to reach the top is at sunrise as the sun lights up the Snake River and the Tetons in the far distance.

Time to Hike: If you want to catch the sunrise, plan on arriving at the trailhead at dusk about an hour before the sun comes up. The hike takes about 45 minutes, so plan accordingly. When my brother and I hiked at dusk, we were literally running on the top of the Butte to get a good photography spot before the sun rose. Don't make our same mistake. You hike up the west side of the butte and can't see how close the sun is to coming up, so start the hike early. Once you hit the top of the butte, you will need to head over to the east side to get a good angle for the sunrise. Also, be careful where you sit as there are cacti everywhere.

Dogs are permitted on leash. 

Directions from Idaho Falls: Head north on North Holmes/Lewisville Hwy for about 20 miles until you reach the intersection with ID-48. Take a right (east) on ID-48 towards Menan. Drive 1 mile and take a left (north) on N 3600 E/Twin Butte Road and follow the road for roughly 3 miles. The trailhead and parking area are on the right side of the road.

Directions from Rexburg: Take Hwy 33 west from Rexburg for about 7 miles. Turn left (south) onto N 3600 E/Twin Butte Road. Take the first right turn on paved road. Continue following the road for 2 miles. The trailhead is on the left side of the road.