Trailhead has ample, free, accessible parking
Access: Since SR26 is closed from the north due to a washout, you must come in on SR26 from the south. Take SR25 south out of Randle then SR99 west towards Windy Ridge. At approx 7 mi in, take SR25 north to 1/4 mi past the Ryan Lake Interpretive Site road. Take the TH road west for about 1/2 mi.
Tanner Butte is perhaps the most remote SOTA summit in Oregon's Northern Cascades. Despite many resources that point out the trail length at 17 miles, measured from the GPS track it shows up as right at 20 miles round trip, with 4500 feet of elevation gain. You won't see many other hikers on these remote trails. NOTE that this area burned in the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017 and trail conditions have likely substantially changed.
I echo AK5SD's comments. Don't go thru the gate but park in nearby areas at the gate. This road is frequented by fire crews and other Rangers who may be only visiting the lookout for a few minutes. Don't get caught behind a locked gate! And the lookout road is mostly a one-way which would create problems if you met traffic. It's only about a mile hike (750 ft elev gain) from the gate to the lookout.
This was my second activation of Sunset Mountain. The first activation was with K7ZO when we did a triple with 2 other summits to the NW. See that trip report here: Sunset Mountain 2015. This activation was a double with the unactivated Peak 7460. See the full trip report here: Peak 7460
Chelan Crest SOTA Outing July 23-25, 2016 – Part 2. See separate report on PNWSOTA website with background on outing and day 1 description. The total trip was approximately 25 miles RT, with approximately 7,000 feet elevation gain, including ups and downs in between the various peaks. This is report 2 of 4, Graham Mountain.
This was my second activation of Mores Mountain. This Mountain makes for a nice double with Shafer Butte. See our (w/K7ZO) previous trip report for more information. Parking at the forest service picnic ground at the saddle between the two summits makes a nice base camp for restocking or having lunch before/after the activations. Note there is a $5 per car self-pay to drive into the picnic area. Picnic tables and pit toilets along with the central location make the $5 well
During my first activation of Sunset Mountain (2015), I spied Peak 7460 down the Hungarian Ridge trail leading from the summit of Sunset Peak. An out and back activation was realized in 2016. It didn't see like it was going to be a big deal hiking down from Sunset peak and then back up to Peak 7460, but it turned out to be quite the effort! 6.2 miles round trip and 2410ft of climbing.
This was my second activation of Granite Mountain which is NW of McCall Idaho. Although strenuous due to a consistently steep grade, the views from the summit are spectacular. Granite Mountain has a twin summit. The trail will take you to the south summit with the fire lookout tower. This is not the SOTA summit, but is well worth a few extra steps to get the view off the south side. After a quick visit to the fire lookout, turn back to the north and you will see the slightly higher SOTA summit a short distance away.
Like a 50 mile long sapphire snake, sparkling Lake Chelan dominates north central Washington State as a geological and recreational wonder. The name Chelan is a Salish Indian word, "Tsi - Laan," meaning 'Deep Water'. Ringed on both east and west sides by giant mountains leaping skyward steeply, the Lake Chelan Gorge is one of the deepest in the US. With a water level of 1,100 feet, and Bonanza Peak topping out at 9,511 feet, there is ve
It makes for a very long day (about 17 miles total), but this Wildcat Mountain (WV-046) can also be reached from Huckleberry Mountain via the Plaza Ridge Trail #783 and the Douglas Trail #781. It's also quite beautiful - a stunning ridge hike in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. Be sure and check out this other access to Wildcat Mountain.
