While researching our Brown’s Mountain outing, I discovered several recent trail report indicating that the road up to the top of Cultus Mountain had been cleared of trees and was passable for the first time in many years. The morning was spent on Brown’s and after some lunch and a beverage at Cultus Resort (which has a very good BBQ menu) we decided to see if we could make it to the top in the Bronco.

WARNING: This is a four wheel drive, high clearance road! I would not attempt in anything smaller than a lifted Subaru. There are some large embedded rocks that would love to drain your engine of oil should they get a bite of your oil pan.

The road is very narrow, with limited places to pass in the unlikely event that you met someone going the other direction. Corner #2 at 2.7 miles is wide enough to pull off the road and turn around should you decide your vehicle is not up for the very rocky rough upper 2.75 miles. I think a Subaru/RAV 4 style vehicle could make it to this point but be warned it gets much rougher beyond this point.

The road is unmaintained by the forest service and I presume it was an off-road club or over lander who cut out the large trees blocking the road in past years

The 5 mile drive took us about 45 minutes to ascend. Once on top the view are spectacular. With views of all the Central Oregon Cascades, Waldo Lake and Diamond Peak.

There are remnants of an old fire lookout, and some shade to operate in with a nice set of “steps” to sit on. Several old snags work as mast supports/places to hang a wire.

We had no luck on 2M, and really struggled to get our contacts on 20 and 40. Clearly the solar cycle is on the wane but we got it done and started the descent back to Little Cultus Lake after about 50 mins. The drive down took about the same 45 mins. and we were all glad to be back on the less rocky access road that runs along the north of Little Lava Lake.

Cultus Mountain is a challenge, whether you are able to drive it, or should you decide to hike it (see N7KOM’s report on his FA hike), but it does pay off with awesome 360 degree views of the Deschutes and Willamette National forest lands.