The pnwSOTA website was created to facilitate communication between SOTA operators in the Pacific Northwest region, as well as show off some of the activities of the top-notch folks we have in the area. On this site you will find information about getting started in SOTA as well as details about summits and activations contributed by people that are operating here.
Twin Peaks East | November, 2025
Access is via the Klootchy Creek County Park off of HW26 just 2 miles east of Hwy 101 near Seaside. There's plenty of parking. And a pit toilet.
The summit and access are on Nuveen Natural Capital (private) property, previously Lewis and Clark Timberland. A (free, as of 2025) access permit is required from https://nncpermits.com/ Get the one for NNC_OR_25.
Oak Grove Butte, OR | November 2025
Oak Grove Butte is now a 3 mile RT hike with 750 feet of elevation gain. The rest of the write up here :http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/k7atn/2016-october-29/oak-grove-butte-or-october-2016, is generally correct, except the passive repeater now has a big brother and the road to that tower is good gravel. However, a gate blocks this road at the final intersection.
Driving Directions:
South Mountain, WA | November, 2025
I attempted to activate South Mountain (and Summit "1540") in the South Olympic Region. The land is owned by Green Diamond Resource Company. It looks like they have taken a page from Weyerhauser's play book and require permits for entry into this restricted use area of Mason County. See: https://nwpermits.greendiamond.com/ At the time of this writing, annual permits started on Sept 1 and Motorized permits cost $425 Ouch!
David Hill, OR | November, 2025
Stimson Lumber is the property owner for David Hill. Their public access policy is fairly generous, and most of their parcels are open for walk-in use. However, a few of their areas as listed as Sensitive Areas and closed to access. Until recently, David Hill was one of these areas. With a recent change it's now accessible, and a short hike will get you to the summit.
5060 Full Quieting Mt. Alt. Route, WA | Oct. 2025
I tried an alternate route to 5060 (aka Full Quieting Mt.) in the Gifford Pinchot.
I parked at (46.10557, -121.66125) on NF-2360-071 (aka Eckhart Pass Road).
Proceed South up the ridge, which is mostly open with some deadfall/blowdown for about 0.55 miles. There is a false summit, just continue south.
Double Peaks, OR | Oct. 2025
Double Peaks is a 4-point summit in the Mt. Hood National Forest, 2 miles west of Olallie Lake. The entire area is a burn scar, so expect loose dirt and rocks, burned treefall, and no shade. The area is 2 miles west of the Warm Spring Reservation and lies squarely in the National Forest.
Peak 7923, MT | August 2025
Climb: 3.2 mi, +2,423 feet (From White River trail at Cliff Creek)
Approach: 27.4 mi., +4,544 feet, -4,281 feet (From Benchmark)
Cox Benchmark
Cox Benchmark is a Drive up summit near Lakeview OR.
There is a small RF site on top, but we experienced no interference from it.
The last bit of road, approximately one mile and 500 feet of gain, is a bit rough and overgrown in places. We drove it in a Rav4, but you could park near the start of it at 42.39478, -120.36527. This would avoid needing higher clearance and northwest pin stripes.
Abert Rim, OR | September 2025
Abert Rim is a 6-point drive-up summit in the Warner Mountains area of the Fremont-Winema National Forest.






