Thunder Butte is the highest point in Douglas County (elevation 9836 ft) with great views in all directions. The summit receives few visitors; only about 20 people have signed the summit register so far in 2009.
Vegetation on Thunder Butte was heavily damaged by the Hayman Fire in 2002. Although there are patches of healthy forest, most of the approach and mountain slopes are covered with burnt trees and prickly underbrush. Aspens and shrubs are regrowing quickly and the Forest Service has begun a restoration effort to replant trees and control erosion.
The best legal access is from Road 9J southwest of the summit. From Westcreek, drive south 0.6 miles and turn right on Stump Road (CR 68). Drive 2 miles west, then turn right on road 9J. You can usually drive 1.5 miles to a small parking area at a right-angle turn, but if the gate is closed, you can park at the gate and walk. Topo maps show other 4WD accesses, but all pass through private property and are gated off.
The hike begins on a low ridge heading generally north. It can be tricky to stay on the ridge top because it's so wide, so I've provided waypoints in the middle and at the north end of the approach ridge. At the Begin Climb reference point, you can choose to either attack the mountain directly up the southwest slope or angle more to the east and go up the drainage to the saddle south of the summit, then turn left and head up the summit ridge. Expect a round trip of between 4 and 5 miles and an elevation gain of about 1400 feet. You can read more about climbing Thunder Butte at summitpost.org.
Don't mistake the summit register for the cache. There are two summit register containers, one a square plastic jar and the other a smaller glass jar. The cache is a large ammo can.