Nicolai Mountain is a drive-up summit west of Clatskanie in northwest Oregon. The gravel road is driveable the ENTIRE WAY in any passenger car (totally Priusable). So if your GPS is having you turn up a 4WD track you are going the wrong way. The views from the 3,028 foot summit can be awesome - the drive has views of the Columbia Estuary that's fantastic. Note that there can be of OHV activity on these roads and trails, especially on weekends. And be warned that remembering all the correct turns for the DRIVE OUT isn't so easy.
Travel about 15 miles west of Clatskanie on Highway 30. You'll see a sign for Bradley State Scenic Viewpoint on the right, and then a left turn for the Nicolai Mountain OHV area. Take Shingle Mill Road about 3.3 miles where you'll find a junction with Nicholai Ridge Road. Follow this south for about 4.3 miles where you'll make a sharp right turn up onto Nicolai Mountain Road. From here it's 1.6 miles to a comm site at the summit. Note that there is a switchback not in Google Maps (marked in red below) that is part of the entirely Priusable route. You'll find a good operating spot about 100 meters to the west from here. Just past that the road ends at the true summit on this long ridge. A GPS may be useful for navigating in this maze of rarely signed forest roads.
