Sutter Buttes
The Sutter Buttes (also known as the Marysville Buttes or Histum Yani (Maidu)) is a small mountain range in the northern part of California Central Valley. Formed 1.5 million years ago by a now-extinct volcano, this circular cluster of peaks rises dramatically from the otherwise flat surrounding farmland. The highest peak, South Butte, reaches 2,132 feet (650 m) above sea level. The Sutter Buttes figure prominently in the creation stories and other traditions of the indigenous Maidu people. Ancient Maidu did not live in the Sutter Buttes, but they did visit the mountains regularly to gather acorns and other foodstuffs or to hunt game. Public access to the Sutter Buttes is limited. Much of the land is privately held by cattle and sheep ranchers, but a number of naturalists and local organizations lead hikes through most areas. In 2003, the California Department of Parks and Recreation purchased a 1,785 acre (7.2 km²) tract in Peace Valley toward the north side of the Buttes with the intent of developing it for public access.
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