The pnwSOTA website was created to facilitate communication between SOTA operators in the Pacific Northwest region, as well as show off some of the activities of the top-notch folks we have in the area. On this site you will find information about getting started in SOTA as well as details about summits and activations contributed by people that are operating here.
Horseshoe Ridge | May, 2025
This summit is a drive-up. The summit is a fantastically beautiful flower-covered meadow with views in all directions. The road is suitable for a Rav4, Subaru, etc., but one may have to go slowly due to some full-width potholes. With a higher clearance vehicle (e.g. 4-Runner), it is fast and easy. The potholes were full of water in late May, but none were muddy or super deep.
4180 and big huckleberry mountain (PCT traverse)
Summary - This is another one of my traverse hikes, linking 4180 (LC-071) and Big Huckleberry (LC-069) over the Pacific Crest Trail in the GPNF. After a ninety minute drive (with a toll bridge) from Portland to the trailhead, you'll find both an easy forest road hike and bushwhack to the summit of 4180 and a PCT hike over to Big Huckleberry. You will cover about eleven miles with 1700 feet of gain, do an easy if steep bushwhack on 4180 bushwhack, and collect big views on Big Huck.
Aubrey Mountain, OR | May 2025
Aubrey Mountain is 2 point summit near Oakridge, OR in the Willamette National Forest. The summit can be accessed either from a neighborhood at the edge of town or from a higher trailhead on the northeast side. I took the high road as described below:
Johnson Mountain, OR | May 2025
Johnson Mountain is a 2 point summit near Powers, OR in the Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest. This site is the presumed location of a famous meteorite hoax detailed here. Due to a closure of Johnson Mountain Road out of Powers, we were advised to head south to China Flat campground which is a good route (detailed below).
three corner rock and birkenfeld (PCT traverse)
Summary - Hiking Three Corner Rock and Birkenfeld together combines good views, no views, an open summit, a forested summit, a long hike, a stiff bushwhack and decent elevation gain. You can do this TRC first or Birkenfeld first. Starting at the Rock Creek Pass trailhead (45.74910, -122.04310) follow the PCT east to (45.71410, -122.00700). From here you have a short steep bushwhack up the ridge to the summit of Birkenfeld. Come back down the same way and return to the way you came, turning off the PCT to the Three Corners Rock trail.
Barklow Mountain, OR | May 2025
Barklow Mountain is a 2 point summit in the Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest between Powers, OR and Port Orford, OR. The site is a former fire lookout (now gone), serviced by a disused road and a short trail. The summit area has a view to the west and plenty of space to set up a vertical or a wire. Some lookout foundation artifacts remain.
Panther Mountain, OR | May 2025
Panther Mountain is a 2 point summit in the Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest, east of Port Orford, OR. The summit is accessed from a short, disused and deteriorating road, followed by a VERY thick bushwhack up a steep slope. This summit could be combined with Father Mountain (which is en route) or Barklow Mountain, or possibly Chismore Butte.
Krell Hill, WA | 2025 May
This summit was easy to reach and only 1.3 miles or so OW. There is an antenna farm at the top but it didn't interfere significantly.
Start at the Stevens Creek Trailhead which has a nice parking lot and no permit required. It is part of a county park a few miles south of Spokane. The trail is pretty steep and is supposed to be closed when too muddy.
There are many large rocks near the summit which can make setting up an antenna with a clear view a little more challenging.