ericnoel - Oct 25, 2020 9:20 pm Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2020
Crane
Short hike on a wintery day.
triyoda - Sep 10, 2019 8:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2019
Did it twice*
Day before got caught in hail and fog and did not get to the true summit. Went back and tagged it. OR CHP #17.
huskertriguy - Sep 1, 2019 6:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2019
Check
I followed Trapper Robbins’ 2001 directions from the COHP site; these will still get you there. (As will googlemaps with one exception: at a fork googlemaps will attempt to take you to the left. I had curiosity and time on my hands so I checked it out, and you will not get far beyond an ORV staging area; beyond that it is gated 3/4-mile up and it is not drivable beyond that besides.)
As with many others I opted to get out and walk the point at which the road is suitable only to high-clearance 4wd vehicles. I am pretty sure our Ascent would have had no issue here, but I needed the walk anyway. Any vehicle will get you to this point.
The junction from the road to the trail is marked. On the dusty trail, fresh motorcycle tracks were apparent, likely from the motorcyclist I met on my way in (and one of two vehicles I saw between the highway and the summit).
The trail shoots to the left of the summit. From the saddle I departed the trail and took the gentle slope to the summit. It is off-trail but the understory requires no bushwhacking at all. I was surprised to find a sizable tenacious stretch of snow just below the summit this late in August and this low in elevation.
The coordinates on Peakbagger here are about 100 yards off; you will want to follow the ridge just a little further, where you will find a benchmark and the summit register under a cairn.
Beautiful views of Goose Lake and the expanse below were there for me.
This was my 250th county high point, a small accomplishment but meaningful to me.
The road seems to have deteriorated since Kerry's report in 2016. Parked about 2. 1miles from the summit where it seemed to eroded my Forester. Nice walk nonetheless with good views of Goose Lake from the top.
trexkerry - Sep 12, 2016 12:45 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2016
Mostly a good drive
The approach roads are in superb condition, not a rock to be found on the great gravel road leading to the final 2.7 miles of very rough road which was rocky and at times quite challenging. The hike to the summit is easy, less than 1 mile, mostly on an OHV track, then easy XC.
Tracy - Sep 26, 2015 9:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2015
via standard route
This was the first of three Oregon county highpoints for the day - all of which were 90 to 95 percent jeeping with the last stretch being hiked.
chris.kienle - Jul 7, 2014 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2014
in the clouds
Parked at the choke point in the road where the maintenance ends and the brush was so thick my truck could not pass through without snapping branches. Nice hike along a road. We, my younger black lab Dude and I, quickly reached the dew point and were engulfed clouds. Found the trailhead no problem. Had my GPS and was very happy I did as it was white out conditions on top and it was the only way I found the summit. Missed out on all the views! Ah well.
Nick Turtura - Jul 15, 2013 5:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2013
Pretty View
Pretty view from the top and an easy hike to get there, however the last couple of miles drive is total crap. Drivable but slow and bumpy.
I drove during dark early night hours and my car accidentally clipped one ground squirrel, one rabbit, and one bat.
I found the road-hike and trail-hike to be boring, but I really enjoyed the western views from the summit. Goose Lake is so huge, yet you can easily notice that it used to be even larger.
I found the summit register and soon located the names of two SP and peakbagging legends: Bob Bolton and Dean Molen.
During the drive out, a very large tan/white bird (it looked like a crane) was spotted flying near the road, and my car had to do a fair number of cow dodges.
This was the second of seven Top 100 peaks summited in Oregon during a 3-1/2 day timeframe.
Troy B - Sep 25, 2010 12:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2010
In The Clouds
Parked at the end of the maintained road and slept in the car so I could get an early start on the 23rd. Hiked up the remaining couple of miles in the dark to the trail then up the trail and ridge to the summit. Thick fog at the summit so I missed out on the view...next time.
Paul McClellan - Aug 24, 2009 12:59 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2009
Solitude
Clear and cool hike with my canine Rudi. Saw no other vehicles at the trailhead nor hikers on the route, making for a pleasant summer weekend experience.
calebEOC - May 17, 2009 9:29 pm Date Climbed: May 16, 2009
Kelly Creek
With a lot of snow still on the Warners, I opted to do a westside approach. Kelly Creek gets you pretty close to the summit ridgeline via a poor 4x4 road, from there it was just dealing with the massive amounts of snow remaining up on top.
derbilly - Aug 21, 2007 6:39 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2007
Snow
With mlarkin2002
cjwhat - Aug 21, 2007 6:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2005
Death March
We (Kyle, Rico, and I) made it to within a mile of the end of the road before I decided the track was unfit even for the Land Cruiser. Took the horse trail south ... the dusty dungy horse trail ... then bushwacked the last couple hundred feet to the top. It was a hot, dry, featureless slog.
mlarkin2002 - Jun 18, 2007 2:39 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2007
Lake Co. HP
Drove as far as we could. About 2mi from the end of the road, a large deadfall tree blocked the way. Continuous snow coverage after about 7000'. Great views from the summit. Also ascended nearby willow point.
Bob Bolton - Feb 26, 2007 6:14 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2003
Don Nelsen - Feb 26, 2007 2:06 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2006
Views!
On a three-day expedition through the wilds of SE Oregon, I bagged Crane Mountain first and then went on to tag the HP's of Harney, Malhuer and finally Baker county. The great views enticed me to explore all around the summit area. I think I found the highest elevation cattle in Oregon when I encountered a herd at over 8,000'!
Dennis Poulin - Feb 25, 2007 8:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2003
Snow in June
I hiked this at the end of June 2003. The access road was still snow blocked, so I had to hike a little ways. It was a beautiful clear day.
Dean - Feb 25, 2007 5:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2003
Lake County highpoint
SP'er Bob Bolton and myself were finishing up a three day swing through southern Oregon and southwestern Idaho. We did Steens,
Stevenson Point, Hayden Pk in Idaho, Granite Peak in Nevada as well as Crane. Great stuff.
We camped at nearby Willow Creek campground and nabbed this prior to the long drive home.
ericnoel - Oct 25, 2020 9:20 pm Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2020
CraneShort hike on a wintery day.
triyoda - Sep 10, 2019 8:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2019
Did it twice*Day before got caught in hail and fog and did not get to the true summit. Went back and tagged it. OR CHP #17.
huskertriguy - Sep 1, 2019 6:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2019
CheckI followed Trapper Robbins’ 2001 directions from the COHP site; these will still get you there. (As will googlemaps with one exception: at a fork googlemaps will attempt to take you to the left. I had curiosity and time on my hands so I checked it out, and you will not get far beyond an ORV staging area; beyond that it is gated 3/4-mile up and it is not drivable beyond that besides.)
As with many others I opted to get out and walk the point at which the road is suitable only to high-clearance 4wd vehicles. I am pretty sure our Ascent would have had no issue here, but I needed the walk anyway. Any vehicle will get you to this point.
The junction from the road to the trail is marked. On the dusty trail, fresh motorcycle tracks were apparent, likely from the motorcyclist I met on my way in (and one of two vehicles I saw between the highway and the summit).
The trail shoots to the left of the summit. From the saddle I departed the trail and took the gentle slope to the summit. It is off-trail but the understory requires no bushwhacking at all. I was surprised to find a sizable tenacious stretch of snow just below the summit this late in August and this low in elevation.
The coordinates on Peakbagger here are about 100 yards off; you will want to follow the ridge just a little further, where you will find a benchmark and the summit register under a cairn.
Beautiful views of Goose Lake and the expanse below were there for me.
This was my 250th county high point, a small accomplishment but meaningful to me.
davidsanger - Sep 16, 2018 7:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2018
parked lower downThe road seems to have deteriorated since Kerry's report in 2016. Parked about 2. 1miles from the summit where it seemed to eroded my Forester. Nice walk nonetheless with good views of Goose Lake from the top.
trexkerry - Sep 12, 2016 12:45 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2016
Mostly a good driveThe approach roads are in superb condition, not a rock to be found on the great gravel road leading to the final 2.7 miles of very rough road which was rocky and at times quite challenging. The hike to the summit is easy, less than 1 mile, mostly on an OHV track, then easy XC.
Tracy - Sep 26, 2015 9:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2015
via standard routeThis was the first of three Oregon county highpoints for the day - all of which were 90 to 95 percent jeeping with the last stretch being hiked.
chris.kienle - Jul 7, 2014 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2014
in the cloudsParked at the choke point in the road where the maintenance ends and the brush was so thick my truck could not pass through without snapping branches. Nice hike along a road. We, my younger black lab Dude and I, quickly reached the dew point and were engulfed clouds. Found the trailhead no problem. Had my GPS and was very happy I did as it was white out conditions on top and it was the only way I found the summit. Missed out on all the views! Ah well.
Nick Turtura - Jul 15, 2013 5:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2013
Pretty ViewPretty view from the top and an easy hike to get there, however the last couple of miles drive is total crap. Drivable but slow and bumpy.
Redwic - Jul 24, 2012 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
Cranes, Cows, And RoadkillI drove during dark early night hours and my car accidentally clipped one ground squirrel, one rabbit, and one bat.
I found the road-hike and trail-hike to be boring, but I really enjoyed the western views from the summit. Goose Lake is so huge, yet you can easily notice that it used to be even larger.
I found the summit register and soon located the names of two SP and peakbagging legends: Bob Bolton and Dean Molen.
During the drive out, a very large tan/white bird (it looked like a crane) was spotted flying near the road, and my car had to do a fair number of cow dodges.
This was the second of seven Top 100 peaks summited in Oregon during a 3-1/2 day timeframe.
Troy B - Sep 25, 2010 12:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2010
In The CloudsParked at the end of the maintained road and slept in the car so I could get an early start on the 23rd. Hiked up the remaining couple of miles in the dark to the trail then up the trail and ridge to the summit. Thick fog at the summit so I missed out on the view...next time.
Paul McClellan - Aug 24, 2009 12:59 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2009
SolitudeClear and cool hike with my canine Rudi. Saw no other vehicles at the trailhead nor hikers on the route, making for a pleasant summer weekend experience.
calebEOC - May 17, 2009 9:29 pm Date Climbed: May 16, 2009
Kelly CreekWith a lot of snow still on the Warners, I opted to do a westside approach. Kelly Creek gets you pretty close to the summit ridgeline via a poor 4x4 road, from there it was just dealing with the massive amounts of snow remaining up on top.
derbilly - Aug 21, 2007 6:39 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2007
SnowWith mlarkin2002
cjwhat - Aug 21, 2007 6:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2005
Death MarchWe (Kyle, Rico, and I) made it to within a mile of the end of the road before I decided the track was unfit even for the Land Cruiser. Took the horse trail south ... the dusty dungy horse trail ... then bushwacked the last couple hundred feet to the top. It was a hot, dry, featureless slog.
mlarkin2002 - Jun 18, 2007 2:39 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2007
Lake Co. HPDrove as far as we could. About 2mi from the end of the road, a large deadfall tree blocked the way. Continuous snow coverage after about 7000'. Great views from the summit. Also ascended nearby willow point.
Bob Bolton - Feb 26, 2007 6:14 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2003
34th Oregon county highpointSee Dean's entry below. Very memorable Labor Day weekend swing through some very wild and remote country. The following weekend we (Dean, Dennis, and I) got together in the Wallowas for Red Mountain and Sacajawea Peak, my final two Oregon county highpoints.
Don Nelsen - Feb 26, 2007 2:06 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2006
Views!On a three-day expedition through the wilds of SE Oregon, I bagged Crane Mountain first and then went on to tag the HP's of Harney, Malhuer and finally Baker county. The great views enticed me to explore all around the summit area. I think I found the highest elevation cattle in Oregon when I encountered a herd at over 8,000'!
Dennis Poulin - Feb 25, 2007 8:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2003
Snow in JuneI hiked this at the end of June 2003. The access road was still snow blocked, so I had to hike a little ways. It was a beautiful clear day.
Dean - Feb 25, 2007 5:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2003
Lake County highpointSP'er Bob Bolton and myself were finishing up a three day swing through southern Oregon and southwestern Idaho. We did Steens,
Stevenson Point, Hayden Pk in Idaho, Granite Peak in Nevada as well as Crane. Great stuff.
We camped at nearby Willow Creek campground and nabbed this prior to the long drive home.