Wagner Butte is a harder hike mainly due to distance, but is at the top of my list of favorites. It will be a good 10 mile hike round trip with about 2200' gain, if using the trail. (SEE UPDATE at bottom for alternate route).Wagner is part of our family cattle range and being familiar with the area we took a short cut through some NF up past the trailhead, to knock a couple miles and a few hundred feet elevation off the hike.
I was brought to Beaty's Butte years ago by Robin N7HAP, a trip that was my first experience of Eastern Oregon, and I fell in love with the area. There is a uniqueness and beauty to the solitude and vastness of this area. I like to make at least one trip a year to enjoy, so Beaty's was at the top of my SOTA list to activate, this was my 2nd SOTA.
Big Red is one of several mountains along the Siskiyou Divide. From road 40S29, the hike is relatively easy, starting through the timber and then it opens up to a short climb to the top. I did not keep track of details but my memory guestimates a fairly easy 1/2 mi hike, about 200' gain, Big Red has fascinating rock and crystal formation on it. Abundance of wildflowers in early summer. So lots of rock, a few trees on top for setting up and no interference.
All this is by memory and was my very first SOTA but hope it is useful. Grizzly Peak trail is a commonly hiked trail in the Ashland area as it is easily accessed and well defined. Grizzly is the view all of us Ashlanders see each day. Follow any road map, easy to navigate. I recommend early hike during the busier times of the year (late spring, summer) as the dead end parking area gets very full, parking can get difficult and crowded.
Follow road maps to Forest Creek Rd off of Hwy 238. You will turn left on BLM 38 3W 5 where there is a large sign for Oregon Belle Creek Access Road. On google this is Isabelle Mt. Rd but there is no sign with that name. Road is worn through asphalt with plenty of potholes but very driveable. You will immediately pass an old historic school on your right and numerous interesting old gold mining rock piles covered in moss along the creekside just past the 2mi marker. Drive until you reach Isabelle Saddle, info board and picnic table are present.