Summit is forested and/or has ample tree cover.
Maklaks was the 2nd summit I did while camping at Jackson Kimball State Park, Sand Ridge the evening before, Maklaks the next morning. These two can easily be done in one day. If really ambitious, you could even add Pothole Butte or another Hwy 97 summit.
Sand Ridge was the first of 3 I did while doing a quick spontaneous one night camping trip to Wood River at Jackson F Kimball State Park. After setting up camp, we went to scout it for the next day but were able to get close enough I decided to hike up and activate it that evening.
The network of roads that accesses this summit are minimally maintained, and the final approach road isn't maintained at all as there is no active tree harvesting happening at the time I activated the summit. Expect the final access road to continue to degraded and grow over. When I activated this, I was able to ride my bike to the highest point on the road but had to lift it over a large blowdown that you won't be able to drive past or lift a motorcycle over. if you're feeling ambitious, you and another experienced sawyer could get it with a 24" bar.
This is a fairly easiy ascess summit, good for a quick activation if in the area. Start by taking Parish Lake road off Highway 22 at (44.525530, -121.994293).
Continue down Parish lake road and turn right when you reach a three way intersection at (44.522143, -122.030406). Shown on maps as Scar Mountain Road.
Follow Scar Mountain Road and turn left at (44.550799, -122.044061), follow this untill you come to a large rock pit. (44.562897, -122.071521).
6.5 miles RT with 1100 feet of elevation gain from the pavement. I suggest this is where you start. None of the track is steep, but there are some steeple chase logs and at one point the road was so over grown we lost it.
This peak is on Stimson Lumber land. Fortunately they allow non-motorized public access, dawn til dusk, with no permit required. There are a few caveats to be aware of (no fires, no e-bikes, no drones, and more). For details, and to make sure this tract is still open when you plan your visit, look for the "Stimson’s Public Access Policy" PDF on their site, linked from this page:
This summit is a good pairing with Cedar Mountain (W7I/NP-119), though a bit of a long hike around 8 miles RT for both.
This summit was a bit of a drive up from Highway 95. Turn east onto E Ohio Match Rd and follow until E Forest Service Rd 1552. This becomes gravel and then dirt and then rather rutted dirt. A car might be able to navigate the ruts with careful driving but a high clearance vehicle or 4x4 would be better. The upper portion of the road gets better. Park at (47.87615426731026, -116.63432109643475) and follow the spur road around to the summit. Hike is around 2 miles and 800' elevation OW. The spur road had a couple tank traps in it and appears to dwindl
1.3 mi, +513 feet
This is a super pleasant hike on nice trails. It would also be a great winter activation with skis or snowshoes. There is a very nice enclosed warming hut near the top (within the activation zone) with a wood stove and a picnic table.
The Spence Mountain Trail climbs about 1800 ft in 7 miles. Its not ever terribly steep but climbs steadily without much relief. There are plenty of gorgeous views to the South and West. The summit has plenty of space for multiple operators, with trees to throw a wire up into.
Full report here
