Malheur Butte

Oregon · United States · Haunted site

A dead volcano above Ontario, Oregon, said to have been a meeting place. The Snake River below it runs south to north.

Malheur Butte is an extinct volcano standing over Ontario, at the far eastern edge of Oregon.

Local tradition holds that it was a popular meeting place for witches, and that the Snake River nearby draws ceremonial use because it is one of the rivers that flows south to north.

That detail about the river is the interesting part. Rivers running the wrong way have been treated as significant in European folklore for centuries, and the belief travelled to America with the settlers rather than arising here.

What is reported around the butte and in the country beyond it is the usual mixture of lights and figures.

The name itself is a clue to how the region was regarded. Malheur is French for misfortune, given by early trappers after a cache was robbed nearby.

The butte is on public land and can be climbed.

FAQ

Where is Malheur Butte located?

Malheur Butte is in Oregon, United States.