Drive up summit

Getting There

This is a pretty easy drive-up summit for most cars, although it gets a little steep and narrow at times so AWD and a little clearance doesn't hurt. 

Google Maps directions that have you entering from the north (Sherman Valley Road) have been correct on several visits. I can't speak to the directions Google gives from the south.

In the attached picture, I've parked at the green X and walked up hill 200-300 feet and turned right at the Y in the road, which brings you into the activation zone.

Divide Butte is a 2 point drive-up summit located in the Mouth Hood National Forest. It takes about 2 hours from Portland but can be combined with South Fork Mountain (W7O/WV-030). It is South of Estacada and SE of Molalla. The summit (and nearly entire area) is a burn scar. Expect downed trees early season or after a storm and bring a saw or chainsaw.

This is an easy drive up summit with beautuful views of the Bitterroot Valley seen on part of the road accessing the summit.

Direction to WM/GA-114:

From Missoula, MT  take US-93 South Approximately 20 Miles to Florence.

Turn East on Eastside Highway SR-203 for 7 miles to Ambrose Creek road.

Turn East on Ambrose Creek Road for 5.4 miles to FS 428. Take FS428 7.8 miles to Ambrose Saddle.

At Ambrose Saddle take FS1339 SE approximately 6 miles to the intersection of 1339 A and 1339B

Dry Mountain is a drive up summit near the Burns-Hines area with a lookout tower and cabin. To get there I recommend this route: 

Turn north off of US-20 at 43.5467, -119.0847 onto NF-47, aka Hines Logging Road.

At 43.64275, -119.2629 turn west onto US-41, aka Donelly Road.

At 43.7038, -119.3953 turn onto US-4120, aka Beaver Slide Road.

Stay on this road until you find a lookout tower.

The road is very good to good until the last half mile or so where it gets a bit rough. Possibly not Priusable, but easy in a Rav4 or higher clearance vehicle.

Peak 1980 is on Washington State DNR land approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes north of the Portland Metro area and about 6 miles south of Cougar, WA. This land requires a WA Discovery Pass.

The summit is a drive-up, but the last .75 miles is rough and a mid-clearance vehicle with AWD or better is recommended. See SOTL.AS or Sota Maps for the route GPX file. The roads in this area are not well mapped on other services and are being worked on by WA State DNR.

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.

This is a drive-up summit into the activation zone.  A couple of concrete blocks and a tall steel antenna mast indicate the site was a possible old Timber Company repeater station when the land was under different ownership. The summit ownership is now US Forest Service. The road access is good for most vehicles down to a ‘Subaru-class’.  Some maps and web descriptions term this summit Lolo Springs Lookout.

Drive-up: The access road terminates within the activation zone and an 80’ walk tops the summit.

Elevation gain from vehicle: Less than 40’

Anderson Mountain is a drive-up for most vehicles (possibly excluding low clearance vehicles). Nearby places to visit include the Big Hole National Battlefield. The Battlefield is the site of an 1877 tragic and deadly encounter between the Nez Perce Tribe and the US Military. The Battlefield Visitor Center is located approximately 17 miles east on Highway #43 from Lost Trail Pass, Idaho/Montana border.

Dennie Ahl Hill is due west of Hoodsport WA. We used Google maps from Shelton and it routed us correctly. Our route was "priusable" with some potholes that are navigatable. It has a wide activation zone and FM into the Seattle area is doable. I set up HF to get some S2S, trees around the perimeter make it easy to set up a mast and you can easily lounge in a chair in the flat area.  Easy Peazy summit.

Lenhart Butte is a drive-up or near drive-up just east of Sandy, Oregon. The access is via paved roads. Your GPS will guide you to the parking area, 45.34611, -122.1697,  or at least mine did.

The parking area is also in the activation zone, but is also pretty much in someone’s front yard.

There is a gated road with a no parking sign on it. This road leads to a radio tower installation that is a tad higher and less than a half mile away. The towers are a bit more secluded.