Easy Trail

Tiffany Mountain’s 8242 foot summit classifies it as a 10 point SOTA summit. With only a few exceptions, 10 point summits in the W7W association are technical climbs, or exposed Class 3 or 4 scrambles.  Tiffany Mountain offers a well maintained and well graded trail to the summit. Starting with a gentle climb along a sparsely treed ridge, the trail gradually makes it way to a large grassy meadow about 1.5 miles into the hike. From the meadows, the wide rocky topped summit is viewed.

I finally got an activation completed today (Dec 1, 2016).  I chose a relatively easy summit that is within 20 minutes of my home, Peak 1094. This peak is in the "back yard" of some rural/suburban houses and is apparently owned by a timber company. I asked for permission to hike from a neighbor. He felt that it was ok as long as I wasn't hunting. Asking first keeps it above board.

Even leaving Bigfoot aside...

...Southern Oregon has a lot to offer. If you'd like to try SOTA from exotic Oregon, there's probably no easier place to do it than Palmer Butte, W7O/SC-185.  It's off US-101 south of Brookings, the first major town north of the California border.

Directions:

Take US-101 to around Milepost 357, south of Brookings, OR.  Turn East at this Signal:

 This summit is not very noteworthy. It's best feaure is being only a few miles from Cummins Peak, allowing an easy two summit  activation. You are on a road right of way that is surrounded by forest. No views, but lots of trees to support antennas.

The road that got you to Cummins Mountain will take you on to Klickitat Mountain.  Stay on this road (Klickitat Ridge Road) and drive 4.1 miles to the  Klickitat “trailhead”. 

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. 

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.

(2.8 miles, +2,200 feet)

Haystack Mountain is a nice hike up a well-maintained trail.  The summit is a large rockpile that has the scattered remains of an old fire lookout (“L-4” type lookout constructed in 1936 & destroyed on 1977).  Although there is room to setup on the summit rockpile, there is a more comfortable flat area about 20-feet below the summit that is well within the activation zone.  The trail may be accessed as follows: