This is a fine hike that many should try at some point - it's 4.4 RT miles and 800 feet of gain for the 'short' version described here, with a summit pinnacle that makes for a fun scramble if you feel the need to get to the tippy top.
UPDATE February 2021 - The "Three Corner Rock Trail" is closed - however, the directions below don't use that trail. It's much longer: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/three-corner-rock-trail.
Crater Peak is a small 7263’ shield volcanic summit that is located a few miles south of the lake.
The trailhead can be accessed at the Vidae Falls picnic area that is about 3 miles east of the Park Headquarters. Drive back into the picnic area and find a place to park. The trail begins here. The trail is about 2.7 miles each way with about a 600’ net elevation increase. The first two miles are moderately strenuous, but the altitude over this segment gently rolls along without any big ascents. You keep wondering where the mountain is.
Let's just get this out of the way. Schreiner Peak is a beast. On the web you
can read many accounts of how difficult reaching this peak is. They're true.
Getting to the trailhead for Schreiner Peak is straight forward. I suggest you
follow Etienne's (K7ATN) excellent directions to reach the Pansy Mountain
trailhead. Specifically, you need to get to the Pansy Lake Trail #551.
Hike up the Pansy Lake Trail. You will pass trail #550 on the left. After Pansy
As part of our annual summer trips Paula, N6VGW and myself (WA6ARA) try to go different routes and have fun along the way. As part of our 2014 excursion we stopped by Crater Lake in Oregon for a few days. While there we did a a couple of Summits On The Air, or SOTAs. These were Wizard Island and Mt Scott. While Mt Scott has been activated often, Wizard Island had never been activated. Wizard Island, is in the middle of Crater Lake so you can’t walk there, it is a boat trip and reservations are usually needed. So Paula and I paid the boat fee and headed off to Wizard Island.
Silver Star is a classic hike in SW Washington that should be on everyone's list to do at least once. There are two approaches to this summit - from the north via Battle Ground, WA, described here: https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Silver_Star_Mountain_Trailhead, and also from the south via Washougal, WA, described in this trip report.
Little Cowhorn Mountain is a summit north of Oakridge, OR that has an inactive lookout cabin perched on rock columns. This 4236’, two point summit offers great views of the Sisters and other Cascade mountains. It is an easy hike of a mile or so with about 850’ of elevation rise.
Lowder Mountain is a 5570’, 4 point summit southeast of Cougar Reservoir in the Three Sisters Wilderness. A 5.6 mile round trip hike leads through forest and hillside meadows up to a mostly treeless summit. Net elevation rise is about 900’. A short side trip from the top opens up to great views of steep cliffs and lakes far below.
Bull of the Woods is a pleasant and popular hike south of Estacada of about 6.5 miles and 1300 feet of gain. There's an unused (but locked) fire lookout at the summit, giving you a chance to be out of the sun (or rain) to activate by standing under the structure.
The summit has great views and has LOS into much of the Willamette Valley. The hike is well described in these sources:
Here's a near drive-up south of Estacada with a hike as short as a quarter mile and 200 feet of gain. Or, you can park sooner along the access road and have a bit more of a walk if you prefer. Along with Oak Grove Butte you might consider a double activation of W7O/CN-021 - Mount Lowe or W7O/WV-009 - Bull of the Woods.
UPDATE 2021 - Mount Lowe may have been damaged in the September 2020 fires. Check for access.