Visit the second highest point in Whitman County during Dad’s Weekend with a stroll up Kamiak Butte.

Towering above the Palouse at 3,641 feet, Kamiak Butte County Park is located about 12 miles north of Pullman on Highway 27.

Kamiak features more than 150 species of birds, mammals and plants, including parliaments of owls and majestic Douglas Fir pine trees, according to the Kamiak Butte County Park website.

Two campus organizations are offering guided treks on the wooded island marooned in the undulating waves of the Palouse.

The WSU Wildlife Society is hosting a “Dad’s Gone Wild” guided hike and catered lunch at the park on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hike will include five stations where participants can answer volunteers’ wildlife quizzes for the chance to win prizes. A raffle will also be held later and will feature gifts from local business like Southfork Public House, Village Centre Cinemas and Rico’s Public House.

Barbecued pork from Porky’s Pit Barbeque will be served for lunch, along with sides and vegetarian options. A pair of event tickets with club-customized T-shirts is $40 and can be purchased at the event or through the society’s email, [email protected].

The WSU Wildlife Society Vice President Kevie-Lynn Pedersen and Secretary Tia Monzingo said this is the first big event the society has sponsored, and it could become annual if the first one is successful.

The WSU Outdoor Recreation Center is also leading their annual Dad’s Weekend hike on Sunday, Oct. 13. Tickets can be purchased for $29, which includes transportation to and from the trailhead as well as the knowledge and skills of two ORC-trained trip leaders, Outdoor Program Coordinator Matt Wagner said.

The hike is about 3.5 miles long and the whole trip takes about four hours, Wagner said. He also said the hikes are rarely cancelled, and trip leaders keep hikers informed with a day-of-hike weather report.

Like most ORC events, interested people should sign up beforehand on the ORC website, orc.wsu.edu. The registration deadline was Wednesday, Oct. 9, but there were a few spots remaining as of press time.

If dad wants to explore Kamiak Butte independently, Todd Heitstuman, park ranger with the Whitman County Parks and Recreation department, had a few recommendations.

The park features several different loop trails, including the easier 3-mile Pine Ridge Loop trail and the more difficult 3.5-mile West End Primitive Trail, Heitstuman said. Dogs are not permitted on the West End Primitive Trail.

Since Kamiak Butte is a county park, trail use and parking are free and no permit required, Heitstuman said. There are several first-come-first-serve overnight camping spots available for $15.

Weather for the butte is usually the same as Pullman or Moscow, Heitstuman said. Hikers should wear comfortable shoes and remember that restrooms and water are not available on the trail.