NC-078 is in the middle of the Tillamook State Forest, far enough away from Portland to be a hassle, but close enough to the city of Tillamook that it's a pretty easy activate if you are already out on the coast. It's in the same neighborhood of the Kilchis River as NC-103 or Stanley Peak.
Drive on hwy from Portland: approx 50 miles, 1 hour
Drive on forest roads: 8 miles
Hike: 1/2 mile, 250 ft gain
All routes described here are posted on sotamaps.org / sotlas.
Starting from Portland / Hwy 26, route to Keenig Creek Campground turnoff of Hwy 6. The road turns to gravel of the usual TSF variety. It's passible in a carefully-driven passenger car but would be more pleasant the more offroad capable your vehicle. The following distances are given on gravel starting from the highway turn:
- Stay on Cedar Butte Rd (same route as to Cedar Butte trailhead) for about 2.1 miles
- At 2.1 miles (45.55350, -123.63183) , turn left (instead of turning right which would continue to Cedar Butte)
- Over the next 1/2 mile are two intersections, turn right at each (45.55137, -123.63421) and (45.55163, -123.63660)
- At 4.8 miles (45.55541, -123.65125), hairpin right at the intersection
- At 8.5 miles (45.56838, -123.69685), park at the intersection
The intersection has plenty of open parking space. At the parking spot, there are roads to the northeast (the way you came), northwest, and south. Begin walking toward the northwest road and watch for a part in the greenery to find the somewhat overgrown path up to the summit. It used to be a doubletrack for supplying the lookout tower, but has been abandoned many decades and has high grass, encroaching trees, and some loose rocks along it now. Despite this, it's still easy to follow. After the first overgrown 1/4 mile of the path, there's a small clearing and fork, take the right path that begins to climb to the AZ. This portion of the path is much more open and soft-bedded. The summit has many trees but also some fairly open areas for raising antennas. You'll also see concrete footings for the old lookout tower. Views are decent; there's also a geocache up there.
From the trailhead, it's easy to drive on to NC-103. Those directions are attached in the nc103 article.
