Charter hikes offer the opportunity for a family, group of friends, or organization to work with us to customize a hike. A charter hike allows hikers more flexibility to design the type of outing they prefer, including start and end times and level of difficulty. For more detailed information, please click on the links below.
These hikes can be booked for weekend dates and there is some availability for weekday hikes if that better suits your needs. Our calendar is limited by availability of properties and guides and especially by the consideration of impact to the Buttes themselves. We consistently book out at least one season in advance, so do not delay if you are interested in this option. As with all our hikes, the seasons are Fall/Winter (late October into February) and Spring (mid-February to the end of April). The selected date will be by mutual agreement between the coordinator, the landowner, the group, and the guide.
We have very few Fall/Winter 26/27 charter hike dates available. We are also booking the remaining dates for Spring 2027. If your group is interested in a charter hike, please contact us as soon as possible for charter availability.
FEES & PAYMENTS
Charter hike fees are $400 for up to 10 hikers and an additional $40 per hiker, up to a total of 20, including the group organizer. Fees are due on the morning of the hike by check or cash. Individual checks are fine, or your group can pay with a single check. We cannot accept credit cards at this time. Guides do not carry cash and cannot make change for cash payments.
If you need to cancel your hike, please try to give us as much notice as possible. There is no cancellation fee. MMIH may cancel a hike in the case of extreme weather conditions, and we will work to reschedule your group if there are openings in the hike calendar.
REQUEST FORM
When you receive a reply, we’ll ask questions about your expectations for a day in the Buttes. Please consider: 2-3 date options, best guess at number of hikers, level of rigor for the hike, and if there are any special interests among your group.
If you read the information throughout this page, you will have a good idea of what to expect for your charter hike. Once a date is agreed upon, we will start sharing more detailed information.
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
The information below is excerpted from the complete document you’ll receive once your hike is booked.
General Information
- All of our hikes are interpretive in nature – meaning that your guide will stop periodically and share natural and cultural history information.
- All hikers are required to sign the Release/Waiver of Liability on hike morning prior to entering the hiking property. Minors must have the signature of their responsible adult. Read Waiver Here>>
- Hikes are all-day events unless you have specifically arranged for a shorter day.
- All hikes are on private property through the agreements our organization has with property owners.
Property & MMIH Policies
- Livestock and ranch work are to be expected on all properties.
- All groups must enter and exit the Buttes together and stay together as a group during the hike.
- No smoking or vaping is allowed.
- No outside animals on the hikes or allowed to remain in cars, on the property or in the town parking lot.
Guides & Bugs
- You and your guide will be provided with each other’s contact information. You can communicate in advance about your hike day as desired and will also be able to communicate on hike morning if there are any issues.
- Your group will have a minimum of two MMIH guides – a lead guide and back-up guides (BuGs).
COVID/Illness Policies
- We remain vigilant regarding current COVID status and other seasonal illnesses. If you are ill, please do not attend the event.
- Happily, we are outside during the day, but masking is always your option.
Liability Waiver/Roster
All hike participants will sign the liability waiver/roster on the morning of the hike. The full waiver will be available as well. To view it in advance, please click the link here. You do not need to sign this and send it in. Read Waiver Here>>
- Any hiker under the age of 18 must have a responsible adult/guardian/parent sign the waiver for them.
TYPICAL HIKE DAY
Meeting Place
- Your group will meet your guide at the agreed upon time and meeting place.
- There are bathroom facilities and food available at our typical meeting places.
- Payments and an orientation to the day's activities will be handled before you drive to your hike start in the Buttes
Driving to the Hike Start
- All groups should be prepared to drive about 20 minutes to your hike start location in the Buttes.
- There are no services in the Buttes, so please have sufficient fuel, water and food.
- Carpooling is recommended to reduce impact on the Buttes properties.
- We enter and exit together as a group. Individual cars may not enter or exit on their own.
The Hike
- You and your guide should confer to clarify route expectation and the approximate time you will return to your vehicles.
- You can expect to walk through the morning and have lunch on the trail.
- After lunch, your route will continue until you return to the vehicles.
- Your pace and level of rigor are up to you and your guide. There are great photo opportunities and so much to see and experience.
- All guides can share good information on geology and other natural history as well as some of the cultural history of the area.
Exiting the Buttes
- Your group will return to your vehicles around your set time, regroup a bit, then prepare to exit.
- As in entering the property, you will be escorted out as a group.
- From the county road, you can continue on your own or be lead back to the meeting place, as needed.
HIKER PREPARATION
- Our hikes are almost always on uneven terrain, even if it is relatively level walking. The routes often involve sidehill walking and stepping around and over rocks. We don’t follow many paths, nor are there groomed trails.
- All hikers must wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes. Athletic/running shoes are not always comfortable for most adults. Hikers on 4, 5 and 6 Boot Rating Hike Events are required to wear hiking boots.
- Hiking sticks can be helpful.
- Everyone should carry snacks, lunch, water and whatever else they need for the day in a daypack.
- Carrying chairs is not recommended unless they are part of your day’s program. Lunch is on the trail away from vehicles.
- Dressing in layers is recommended.
- Hats are always a good idea – chin straps or keeper cords are good on windy ridges!
- Be prepared for rain (raingear) or shine (sunscreen).
- Poison oak is present in some areas – we’ll stay alert.
- Ticks are not a significant issue in the Buttes, but there may be mosquitoes.
- There may be thistles at certain times of the year – long pants are preferable as are closed toe shoes.
- The Buttes can be much warmer than the surrounding area – bring plenty of water! Relying on energy drinks for hydration is not recommended.
- Hikers on 4, 5, and 6 Boot Rating Hike Events are advised to bring more water and food as hikes are quite demanding.
- Cameras and binoculars are always welcome.
SENSITIVE AREAS & POLICY
Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes recognizes that the Sutter Buttes hold many unique, rare, and sensitive resources that must be protected. These resources include animal and plant species, sensitive habitats, cultural sites and artifacts, and geological features.
It is our policy to prohibit handling or moving cultural or rare natural or geological specimens unless pre-approved as part of an MMIH Board-authorized educational or research program, and conducted in accordance with State and Federal regulations.
Guides and spokespersons are to exercise care when escorting groups to historical and cultural sites to avoid impacting or degrading the site. All artifacts are to be left as they are found, and any new discoveries are to be reported to Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes Board of Directors.