Activation Reports

Stevens Peak is a forested summit overlooking Noxon Reservoir on the Clark Fork River. Much of the summit hike is along good loop Stevens Ridge Trail #1083. The summit is south of the small community of Noxon, Montana and the Noxon dam. The summit is a broad forested flat but there are good views of Noxon Reservoir and Cabinet Mountains on the northeast side of the summit where trees give way to steep rocky and grassy areas. 

Trail miles: 1.8 on-trail, 0.3 off-trail, both round trip

Elevation gain: 800’

This nondescript summit is almost indistinguishable from the surrounding ridges and summits.  It does have a rocky forested summit traversed by an old logging skid trail.  It also lies at the head of interestingly named creek, Dirty Ike.

Being close to Clinton, MT, just off Interstate 90 and having a logging road traversing south slopes to just below this summit makes an easy activation or possible easy winter activation.

Trees on the summit provide good support for hanging wire antennas.    

Trail Miles: 0.5 roundtrip

Dec 2025 Update: Access road to the Woodpecker Trailhead is now open. This road passes right past Forest Road 035 which is the turnoff described in the original trip report (http://www.pnwsota.org/node/681). Road 035 has been cleared of all large deadfall, but does narrow in places so suggest you walk this if you don't want paint scratches on the vehicle.

Dec 2025 Update: This area has been radically transformed by massive forest fires. Access roads to Timber Butte are now open after years of being closed (image below).  The burned trees near roads have been logged to keep them clear. The summit and all of Forest Road 812 is completely burned.  Summit views posted to SOTA Atlas.

Engle Peak has spectacular views of the southern Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area. Peak access is over good roads and a lightly used trail. 

5526 is a 4-point summit in the Malheur National Forest, about 15 road miles northeast of Prairie City, OR. It is a very short bushwhack through open forest up to the summit area, which is pretty flat. The roads in the area are quite convoluted but the well worn tracks take you right close to the summit. The summit is semi-open, sparse views and plenty of trees for antennas. Don't expect 2m contacts here and AT&T data service was non-functional, so I relied upon RBN for spotting. I didn't think to check APRS.

5497 is a 4-point summit in the Malheur National Forest, about 23 road miles northeast of Prairie City, OR. It is about a 1 mile road walk/bushwhack (each way) to the summit through open terrain and forest. The area around the summit is closed to motor vehicles but has good remaining roads for walking. The summit is semi-open, no views and plenty of trees for antennas. Don't expect 2m contacts here and AT&T data service was non-functional, so I relied upon RBN for spotting. I didn't think to check APRS.

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 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:

Get on 224 heading east out of Estacada, OR.

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!