Winter activation of a "standard Idaho 2-pointer" (read: barely achievable especially during winter!). I took advantage of a newly activated holiday at work (President's day) to activate the closest summit to Boise. I went up the standard "hiking" summer route. The round trip on foot is 11.5 miles and 3000 ft vertical. The summer "4x4 drive-up" route is gated closed Nov-April and is currently under a bunch of snow.
The activation zone for Cooper Mountain is a (very) short hike above the dog park at Winkelman Park, 10139 SW 175th Ave, Beaverton, Oregon. There is no AZ access from Cooper Mountain Nature Park to the west and the summit proper is posted "No Trespassing."
Hurricane Hill is the high point of Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. It's a fairly easy hike in the summer season, and quite a ways farther in the winter on snowshoes. The summer hike is about 3.0 miles round trip, while in winter it will be closer to 5.6 miles. Although the net elevation gain is about 500 feet, you'll be going up and down along the ridge for more elevation gain, especially in winter.
In the remote corner of the remote corner of Northeast Oregon are the Wallowa Mountains. On the eastern edge of the state, looking down into the Snake River Canyon is Hat Point, a drive-up six-point summit.
Head east on 350 from Joseph, Oregon 30 miles to Imnaha. From there, you'll take Hat Point Road another 10 miles to the lookout and summit of Hat Point. This gravel road is steep in places, and narrow, but can be driven in a passenger car.
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.
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.
I had mapped out three different routes to the summit “trailhead” and opted to drive up from the south off Nestucca River Road. Turn north at an unmarked road/intersection .7 miles west of the NW Boundary Road/Nestucca River Road intersection. Most roads in this area are unsigned.
Here is a lovely hike in the south reaches of the Clackamas watershed. The hike is about 6.5 miles round trip and 1000 feet of gain. Although about two hours from Portland, it's also a nice drive to the trailhead with good signage along the way. Only the last half mile or so would be challenging in a passenger car.
An easy one pointer in the Coast Range with a very short hike - using a GPS may help you find it in the maze of roads that is the Tillamook State Forest.
Signal Butte has been on my watch list for over a year and I was finally able to summit and activate it today. This peak had never been activated. Thanks to Nick KI7PTT for humoring me and coming along.