Good Views From Summit

Backpacking into North Cascades National Park (US-0055)

After activating Little Glass Butte, I drove down the south side towards Round Top Butte (GPX). The road down was rocky with obsidian, be sure to collect some when you stop to open the wire gates. Once down the mountain, turn east and follow the ranch road.

Glass Buttes in central Oregon is a premier rockhounding location. The summit of Glass Butte is accessed off of Highway 20 up a well-maintained gravel road (GPS track). There are some small water bars on the road, a passenger vehicle could make it up no problem with careful driving.

I did Pothole Butte after Maklaks. It was not on my list for this trip but you always should keep a back up plan if you have some extra time or one fails right?

I came from Sun Mountain Rd but this is easily accessed from 97 via FS RD 70. Take a left off RD70 at 42.95707, -121.87904. The SW side of the mountain is very steep and cliffs. We drove around the south side to 42.95635, -121.9501.

Summary - I first hiked Lookout Mountain via the usual route, High Praire Trail, Tim N7KOM as part of a two day outing that included SOTA summits 6001 and Badger Butte.

Summary - Most folks drive to the Larch parking lot and walk up to the observation platform. This is the long way up. You will start from Multnomah Falls on I84 and climb 4200 feet over seven miles.

Update July 2025:

I noticed this trail on my first hike and again on my second ascent.  I decided to give it a try on the way down.  It avoids the false summit and saves a little time.

http://www.pnwsota.org/content/goat-mountain-w7wlc-035-better-trail

This is another summit I activated with my mountain bike and in this case that turned out to be a mistake as the bushwhack to the top is very steep, very thick, and not at all fun to do in bike shorts and shoes with spd cleats in them. 

Dean Mountain, also labeled on some maps "Dear Mountain", as in Dear Mountain it's been such a long time, sorry I haven't written.

Most of the difficulty with these peaks is the drive not the hikes.  The road to Lookout Mountain is not bad and can easily be done by itself.  But if you are activating 6001 or Badger Butte, might as well go for the hat trick.  For a total hike of 5.4 miles with 1400 feet of elevation gain, you get 16 points.  Bring a GPS on 6001 and Badger Butte for the bushwhacking.