Here is an easy drive up near Cole Mountain. Unpaved roads are good gravel with a few pot holes here and there. Should be alright in any vehicle as of this writing. My Garmin gps and google maps were worthless finding this summit. So here is my attempt to make it easier for the next activator.
First, get yourself to the intersection of U.S. Hwy 26 & State Hwy 53 which is about 13 miles east of Seaside OR. From there turn south onto 53. After 0.7 miles turn left off of Hwy 53 on Hamlet Road and go 3.6 miles. Then turn right on well marked Hill Road and go 2.3 miles. After about 0.2 miles you will come to a bridge and the road will turn to good gravel ( 45.8556, -123.7157). When you get 2.3 miles from the Hill road turn there is a Y, stay left ( 45.8362, -123.7058). Continue to 45.8327, -123.7092. Here you will turn left and proceed one mile to the summit. The summit is a ridge and we found a nice flat spot away from the car to operate. It had room and trees for most any antenna setup. (I used a EFHW on 20m and a 3 element Yagi on 2M, both home brew).
This is not a good place to get back into the Portland area for 2M contacts. I heard a couple of the mega stations on while mobile, but they were gone by the time I set up my portable 2M. I did get a couple of 2M contacts. One mobile on 101 and one in Nehalem, however, HF would be the surest way to activate this peak.
