Beartrap Ridge is a sparsely treed summit having spectacular views of the steep landscape into Owl Creek and the Salmon River. Adding to the view are large wildfire patterns of the mid- 2000’s and exposed geology.
Mount Pisgah is one of two Mount Pisgahs in Oregon, this one is near Prineville, the other near Eugene. The one near Eugene is a nice hike, this one is a tedious drive up.
The map shows several ways to get there. We drove on forest road 22 past Walton Lake. The pavement ends a bit after the lake. There is a connector road 150 and then we were on Summit Road, aka 2630.
Signal Peak is a 12.7 mile Priusable drive up with some pot holes that are easily navigated. It does not need a Weyerhaeuser permit for access. Although you traverse through Weyerhaeuser land, the road you take is designed as a “Public Access Corridor” to the state forest where the Signal Peak summit is located.
June 24th, 2023. Trout Creek Butte (TCB) is the site of a now defunct fire tower 7 straight line miles to Sisters, OR and 21 or so to Bend, offering great views to the south of the Three Sisters and Black and Millican Craters to the west.
NC-080 is one of the peaks in the Tillamook State Forest surrounding the Trask River valley, along the eastern edge. As such, the most straightforward approach is via Trask River Rd past the Trask River Park Campground.
Confirming Bill WJ7WJ's report a couple years ago, this peak contunues to be a drive-up. Like Bill, I managed to activate it by hiking up the OHV trail to the southwest of the peak, but confirmed the drive-up path exists and is workable in all but the most fragile passenger car. If your transport has gone to South Saddle, it can do this one too.
If ever in the area I highly recommend detouring up to Agency Hill. The mountain itself recently burned in the 2-4-2 Fire but the view from above is amazing. You look down at Crooked Creek, a winding creek in the basin that eventually gets to Agency Lake. Upper Klamath, Shasta, Mountain Lakes caldera, Crater Lake rim, McLoughlin, Pelican. You can see so much. This whole area has a lot to offer. Lots of eye candy! High clearance vehicle recommended. Follow any map straight up to summit. Plenty of area to set up but you may get a little sooty and it can be dusty.
Flagtail Mountain is not close to any population center. You can get to it from John Day by traveling south on US-397 and then turning west onto Izee Paulina Lane. Travel this paved road to 44.1618, -119.2511 and turn onto a good gravel road. Drive about five miles to an active lookout.
Mount Baldy summit has a Forest Service Lookout tower and a multi-agency communication site for the NW corner of Montana. There are good views from the summit including high mountains of the Cabinets Mountains to the south, the Selkirk Mountains to the west and into Canada to the North.
An easy summit in the John Day area is Long Creek Mountain. To access it turn east off of Highway 395 on NF-3940. This turn is at the Long Creek Summit, 44.6789, -119.1309. The turn off the highway is steep, but I believe it is Priusable to 44.6626, -119.0480. From here it is half a mile and 250 ft. of gain on a rough road to the summit. You can drive it with high clearance and your mirrors folded in, if you don’t mind a few paint scratches.