Left from the trailhead and hit the summit in just under two hours of fairly easy hiking. First mile is very straightforward with only the old burms from the decommissioning of the road. Second mile has significant blowdown in the trail that are easy enough to get around. Third mile and beyond it opens up again with easy hiking. Great views from the top with all of the cascades from the Three Sisters to Mt. Shasta visible. Overall an easy and enjoyable climb.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1672814789
https://youtu.be/nXvEAWi5tCY
ericnoel - Oct 9, 2016 11:29 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2016
Yamsay
Walked the downfall obstacle course to the summit with Bobby.
gimpilator - Oct 7, 2016 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2016
12 peaks in 2 days
A solo trip which I started with Misery Ridge at Smith Rock. From there I stopped for a hike up Black Butte on my way to Crater Lake. At the lake I hiked up the 5 primary peaklets around the lake and a few minor ones before driving to Yamsay Mountain for the final hike. Yamsay has more downed trees on the trail than I've ever seen before, literally hundreds. See the trip report.
Redwic - Aug 10, 2015 10:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2015
Strange but easy
This was Part 2 of my Diamond/Yamsay road trip one-day slam, in the middle of a larger weekend trip. Yamsay reminded me of two peaks further north. First, the view from the west (from Klamath Marsh) has a very similar appearance/silhouette to the western view of Calispell Peak in NE Washington. Second, the road-trail to the summit reminded me a lot of Monument 83 Peak along the WA/BC border, a gentle-grade road-trail completely surrounded by evergreen trees where you cannot see the top of the mountain until almost on it.
Almost any street legal vehicle can drive to the summit except perhaps very-low clearance vehicles. I drove my passenger car... although the final mile or so has few pullouts/turnaround spots and my car has some major scratches on the side due to my persistence to drive to the trailhead at the end of the road. The road hike was very straighforward minus the annoying blowdowns, although I bypassed the final major switchbacks via crosscountry travel through easy forests... but that is not recommended without a GPS as many of the slopes/forests look identical. Interesting summit with good views and remains of a past lookout. I was able to finish the hike and continue my road trip with plenty of time prior to sunset.
locke456 - Oct 8, 2013 11:31 pm Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2013
Fun Obstacle Course
Did this as part of a Yamsay/McLoughlin dayhike marathon this weekend.
Really a fun little climb. Didn't expect much based on the descriptions I'd read, but the berms aren't really a major factor and the obstacle course of the downed trees was actually sort of a blast to navigate. I only had to leave the trail proper once, really early on.
Had to park two miles short of the trailhead because of the road conditions, but was still able to summit and get back to the car in around 5.5 hours.
The summit itself is a gorgeous, high-prominence view of all the major peaks in the area. It's too bad this peak doesn't get more traffic.
Brian Jenkins - Aug 26, 2013 12:03 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2013
Nice morning
Hiked up in the morning with Luna after camping at the Jackson Creek Campground. Lots of berms and trees to cut around. Is all the obstacle course really necessary? A couple big rocks at the beginning of the trail would keep vehicles off it. Luna had fun chasing chippies everywhere. Neat cirque below the summit. Someone had put a huge shell (giant oyster?), chunk of obsidian and horseshoe at the summit but I never did see any summit register. 1 hr 34 up, 1 hr 8 down.
Is there another Yamsay Mountain out there? Not sure why the "(OR)" is in the title of this one. Fun easy hike though.
Nick Turtura - Oct 20, 2012 12:45 am Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2012
Hidden gem
A great day for a hike. Looking at the climber's log it looks like you only go here if you're a p2k chaser, which is sad, because it's actually kinda a cool little summit with a nice hike and great views. More people should know about this one.
Did this with Troy after Gearhart and Deadhorse the previous day. Nearby Thompson Reservoir is a nice camping spot when segueing between peaks in this area. And yes, thankfully the dead trees were cleared off the trail.
Troy B - Jul 10, 2012 12:05 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2012
Western Route
Hiked up the western route/old road/trail to the summit. The route had recently been cut out of the numerous fallen trees so the hike up to the top went quickly.
Paul McClellan - Oct 25, 2011 9:35 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2011
Cool autumn day
It was a sunny but cool autumn day and the view from the summit gave a different perspective of the Cascades peaks than what I usually see. I enjoyed picking out each Cascade peak to the west, and identified some peaks to the east as well. I had the hike to myself, and enjoyed the quiet and relaxing atmosphere on the summit.
Went up the old lookout road ... except I stayed on game trails north of the road because they felled about a bazillion trees across the road to keep vehicles from using it. Time up an hour and a half.
Bob Bolton - Oct 3, 2006 12:21 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2005
Western route
The old abandoned road was covered with blowdowns that had to be skirted by walking through the forest. This was only an annoyance, however, as it is an easy hike. The views from the top were long in all directions. It was my 51st Oregon P2K.
Dean - Sep 5, 2006 4:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
Western route
Part of a trip to this part of Oregon, I did Bald mountain the evening before and camped at Jackson Creek CG, a nice spot. Then I got up with the dawn and did Yamsay before it got too hot and afterwards headed over and did Mt. Bailey, to complete a nice twofer day. My day ended at a rest area above Roseburg, whew, a long one but fulfilling.
Dundeel - Jun 22, 2020 10:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2020
Yamsay MountainCamped a few miles from the trailhead. Hiked in excellent weather to the top and enjoyed unrestricted views.
SkiValdez - Jul 16, 2018 1:30 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2018
Yamsay Mountain SummitLeft from the trailhead and hit the summit in just under two hours of fairly easy hiking. First mile is very straightforward with only the old burms from the decommissioning of the road. Second mile has significant blowdown in the trail that are easy enough to get around. Third mile and beyond it opens up again with easy hiking. Great views from the top with all of the cascades from the Three Sisters to Mt. Shasta visible. Overall an easy and enjoyable climb.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1672814789
https://youtu.be/nXvEAWi5tCY
ericnoel - Oct 9, 2016 11:29 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2016
YamsayWalked the downfall obstacle course to the summit with Bobby.
gimpilator - Oct 7, 2016 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2016
12 peaks in 2 daysA solo trip which I started with Misery Ridge at Smith Rock. From there I stopped for a hike up Black Butte on my way to Crater Lake. At the lake I hiked up the 5 primary peaklets around the lake and a few minor ones before driving to Yamsay Mountain for the final hike. Yamsay has more downed trees on the trail than I've ever seen before, literally hundreds. See the trip report.
Redwic - Aug 10, 2015 10:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2015
Strange but easyThis was Part 2 of my Diamond/Yamsay road trip one-day slam, in the middle of a larger weekend trip. Yamsay reminded me of two peaks further north. First, the view from the west (from Klamath Marsh) has a very similar appearance/silhouette to the western view of Calispell Peak in NE Washington. Second, the road-trail to the summit reminded me a lot of Monument 83 Peak along the WA/BC border, a gentle-grade road-trail completely surrounded by evergreen trees where you cannot see the top of the mountain until almost on it.
Almost any street legal vehicle can drive to the summit except perhaps very-low clearance vehicles. I drove my passenger car... although the final mile or so has few pullouts/turnaround spots and my car has some major scratches on the side due to my persistence to drive to the trailhead at the end of the road. The road hike was very straighforward minus the annoying blowdowns, although I bypassed the final major switchbacks via crosscountry travel through easy forests... but that is not recommended without a GPS as many of the slopes/forests look identical. Interesting summit with good views and remains of a past lookout. I was able to finish the hike and continue my road trip with plenty of time prior to sunset.
locke456 - Oct 8, 2013 11:31 pm Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2013
Fun Obstacle CourseDid this as part of a Yamsay/McLoughlin dayhike marathon this weekend.
Really a fun little climb. Didn't expect much based on the descriptions I'd read, but the berms aren't really a major factor and the obstacle course of the downed trees was actually sort of a blast to navigate. I only had to leave the trail proper once, really early on.
Had to park two miles short of the trailhead because of the road conditions, but was still able to summit and get back to the car in around 5.5 hours.
The summit itself is a gorgeous, high-prominence view of all the major peaks in the area. It's too bad this peak doesn't get more traffic.
Brian Jenkins - Aug 26, 2013 12:03 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2013
Nice morningHiked up in the morning with Luna after camping at the Jackson Creek Campground. Lots of berms and trees to cut around. Is all the obstacle course really necessary? A couple big rocks at the beginning of the trail would keep vehicles off it. Luna had fun chasing chippies everywhere. Neat cirque below the summit. Someone had put a huge shell (giant oyster?), chunk of obsidian and horseshoe at the summit but I never did see any summit register. 1 hr 34 up, 1 hr 8 down.
Is there another Yamsay Mountain out there? Not sure why the "(OR)" is in the title of this one. Fun easy hike though.
Nick Turtura - Oct 20, 2012 12:45 am Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2012
Hidden gemA great day for a hike. Looking at the climber's log it looks like you only go here if you're a p2k chaser, which is sad, because it's actually kinda a cool little summit with a nice hike and great views. More people should know about this one.
calebEOC - Jul 10, 2012 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2012
Yamsay Ski TrailDid this with Troy after Gearhart and Deadhorse the previous day. Nearby Thompson Reservoir is a nice camping spot when segueing between peaks in this area. And yes, thankfully the dead trees were cleared off the trail.
Troy B - Jul 10, 2012 12:05 am Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2012
Western RouteHiked up the western route/old road/trail to the summit. The route had recently been cut out of the numerous fallen trees so the hike up to the top went quickly.
Paul McClellan - Oct 25, 2011 9:35 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2011
Cool autumn dayIt was a sunny but cool autumn day and the view from the summit gave a different perspective of the Cascades peaks than what I usually see. I enjoyed picking out each Cascade peak to the west, and identified some peaks to the east as well. I had the hike to myself, and enjoyed the quiet and relaxing atmosphere on the summit.
cjwhat - Jul 14, 2007 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2005
Yamsay 'road'Went up the old lookout road ... except I stayed on game trails north of the road because they felled about a bazillion trees across the road to keep vehicles from using it. Time up an hour and a half.
Bob Bolton - Oct 3, 2006 12:21 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2005
Western routeThe old abandoned road was covered with blowdowns that had to be skirted by walking through the forest. This was only an annoyance, however, as it is an easy hike. The views from the top were long in all directions. It was my 51st Oregon P2K.
Dean - Sep 5, 2006 4:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
Western routePart of a trip to this part of Oregon, I did Bald mountain the evening before and camped at Jackson Creek CG, a nice spot. Then I got up with the dawn and did Yamsay before it got too hot and afterwards headed over and did Mt. Bailey, to complete a nice twofer day. My day ended at a rest area above Roseburg, whew, a long one but fulfilling.