Here's a drive-up summit with a fire lookout (one you can rent) in Eastern Oregon. You might spring for a lookout reservation and enjoy being chased all day long - but you can also stay below te lookout on the road and let the occupants enjoy their solitude while you activate this peak.
Blogs
Lake Butte, OR | June 2017
Here's an easy road walk in Eastern Oregon of about 2.1 miles round trip and 400 feet of gain. Interestingly, there's only one "Lake Butte" in Oregon - and there's no lake near it.
Dixie Butte, OR | June 2017
If you find yourself along the eastern stretches of Highway 26 and have a high clearance vehicle, this would be a nice hike of about 2.5 miles round trip to an operating fire lookout. You may elect to drive to the summit, but you may find it more comfortable to hike the narrow steep section. There was snow partially blocking the road in late June, another reason to walk the last bit.
Wildcat Mountain, OR | July 2017
Here's a nice 2.4 mile round trip hike on a quiet forest road, east of Prineville. Don't get this Wildcat Mountain mixed up with the other three summits with the same name in Oregon.
Monte Cristo HP, WA | Nov 2018
Here for some activation fun west of Trout Lake, Washington is Peak 4420 or Monte Cristo Range High Point. It's a bit out of the way, but is a near drive-up four pointer accessed by a road that a passenger car can handle. Check out this updated trip report here: http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/kj7eha/2020-june-24/monte-cristo-hp-june-2020-updated-info.
Humbug Mountain, South Coast OR | Nov 2018
Humbug is a great hike on the South Coast, even if it is a steep six miles round trip and 1700 feet of gain. Find the well-marked and large parking lot for the trailhead about five miles south of Port Orford, Oregon on the west side of Highway 101. No parking pass is required.
After you climb about a mile, there is a slightly shorter (and slightly steeper) option to take the West Trail - I suggest that you try both, as the West has some nice peak-a-boo views, and the East has some amazing old growth. All trails are well-graded and likely busy during the summer months.
Hancock Hill, OR | Posted
Hancock Hill is a summit off of Highway 38 near Elkton, Oregon. There is a gate and a No Trespassing sign right off the highway.
Bennett Butte, OR | No Access from Langlois, OR
Maps show that Bennett Butte could be accessed from Langlois Mountain Road and Bennett Butte Road from the west. However, just before the turn for Bennett Butte, county road maintenance ends and there is a gate with very unfriendly Private Property and No Trespassing signs.
It could be that this summit might be accessed from the east starting at Myrtle Point. There may also be a closed gate some distance before the summit where there is a radio site.
Peak 1461, OR | Private?
This summit is a short distance off Langlois Mountain Road (Langlois, Oregon).
However, it is behind a house with a loose, barking dog and one would need to walk up the driveway and pass only a few feet from the house to access the summit. This is likely private property.
Hollyburn Mountain, BC, Canada
After my first activation on Black Mountain VE7/GV-013 a week ago, I wanted another activation before the rain season starts. I chose Hollyburn Mountain VE7/GV-011 because it seemed just a little more difficult than GV-013. An extra 100m gain shouldn't be too much, right?