Devil's Peak is an easy hike, even if it's not an easy drive. After starting your hike from the Turnaround Trailhead you'll be at the summit after only a mile and a half and 700 feet of gain (there are other ways to get there). At the top you'll be treated to a tour of one of the few remaining fire lookouts in the region and have a chance to enjoy great views of Cascade volcanoes, including Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson.
Devil's Peak Hike gives a good summary of the hike, and Devil's Peak Trailhead provides good directions. On this October day the gate for the Still Creek Campground was half closed suggesting that at sometime it may be fully closed for the season. The road is appropriate for high clearance vehicles but perhaps a carefully driven passenger car that you don’t care about much could make the eleven very bumpy miles.
Consider an activation of "Chasers Rock" - W7O/CN-082 along with Devil's Peak as it's accessed via the same Forest Service road - NF 2613.
At the summit is the lookout – it was unlocked when I was there and I could have operated from inside if I had enough feedline. I was happy to be able to sit on the catwalk and have my EFHW strung from the railing to a pole leaning on a tree 60 feet away. The description suggests that the lookout is staffed by volunteers but at this time of year it appears to be open and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also camping at Still Creek or many pullouts along NF-2613.
It was great to start on 40 meters and have the summit qualified with five QSO on that band – altogether there fifteen QSO including two summit-to-summit contacts.
The hiking directions above also describe approaching Devil’s Peak via the Cool Creek Trail. This approach is a bit longer and more effort at 7.6 miles and 3200 feet of gain. See this trip report.
