Hickman Butte is located within the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit (BRWMU) and is restricted to the general public by federal law. Locked gates are at all road entry locations. Authorized access is required to enter. The BRWMU is patrolled by Portland Water Bureau security personnel. Electronic surveillance is used to keep an eye on things.
The City of Portland offers guided tours June through October. Unfortunately, none of the tours include any of the SOTA summits.
Only a few of the SOTA summits within the BRWMU have maintained road access. Cross country travel from the nearest road would be extremely difficult even for someone that had authorized access.
I’ve had the pleasure to work in the BRWMU over the past 30+ years supporting wireless communications infrastructure. This access has allowed me to travel to Hickman Butte and other SOTA sites within the BRWMU.
Access Hickman Butte via Highway 26 to E Sleepy Hollow Drive, E Barlow Trail Road to NF-14 (Sandy Ridge Trail). Beyond the first locked yellow gate anyone is allowed to walk-in or ride a bike up to the second locked yellow gate at the Little Sandy River. Approved access is required beyond the second locked gate. Continue on NF-14 to NF-12, turn right on Road 400 and then left a Road 411 up to the Hickman Butte Lookout and collocated radio site.
