Washington Rover Locations

A list of VHF rover sites in Washington's grid CN86. Be careful.
This grid square spans two states. See also Oregon CN86.
Hover mouse over a map marker for more about the grid and site.

I-5 Toutle River SB, CN86ni14

Near city of Castle Rock, Cowlitz County, WA, Altitude 374

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2013-01-29

Comments by: Barry K7BWH

I-5 southbound milepost 54 rest area is a local high spot. The far end is probably the highest but don't expect too much with all these trees.

Mt Pleasant Cemetery, CN86ob03

Near city of Kalam, Cowlitz County, WA, Altitude 1086

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2013-01-28

Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Driving directions: Take Exit 32 (Kalama River Road) from I-5.
- Go East 1/4 mile on Kalama River Road and turn left onto Old Hwy 99 S.
- Go North 1.8 miles on Old Hwy 99 S to Mt Pleasant Road.
- Turn right onto Mt Pleasant Road and just go uphill.
- Follow signs to Mt Pleasant Cemetery.
- Turn right onto Hale Barber Road, and go 2 miles.

Dray's Mound, CN86nb65

Near city of Kalama, Cowlitz County, WA, Altitude 400

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2013-01-18

Comments by: Lynn, Barry N7CFO, K7BWH

Driving directions: - Take Exit 32 (Kalama River Road) from I-5.
- Go East 1/4 mile on Kalama River Road and turn left onto Old Hwy 99 S.
- Go North 1.8 miles on Old Hwy 99 S to Mt Pleasant Road.
- Turn right onto Mt Pleasant Road and almost immediately turn left into the Carrolton Crest development (stone entrance).
- However, as of Jan 2013 this is now gated and normally closed.
- This community is an exclusive and private road.
- Instead, continue on up the hill to the Mt Pleasant Cemetery, CN86ob.

Restrictions: This is gated shut for private access only, as seen in Jan 2013.

I-5 Scatter Creek, CN86mu10

Near city of Centralia, Lewis County, WA, Altitude 200

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2006-04-11

Source: Lynn N7CFO PNW Rover Locations CN86

Comments by: Lynn N7CFO

WSDOT rest stop on I-5 in broad flat valley offers quick off-the-freeway access with good sightlines to Seattle and Portland metro areas. There's not much else there except clean restrooms.

Driving directions: I-5 rest stop about 20 miles south of Olympia. Note access only from northbound lanes.

Mowich Road, CN86xx82

Near city of Buckley, Pierce County, WA, Altitude 2904

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2012-05-20

Comments by: Barry K7BWH

A mile west of CN96aw is a wide spot on Mowich Road, offering good propogation from CN86xx. These two spots together make an excellent place for operating a VHF contest. (Please bring a trash bag and help pick up after the careless littering.)

Eatonville HS, CN86uu67

Near city of Eatonville, Pierce County, WA, Altitude 810

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2011-12-18

Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Eatonville High School provides a convenient large parking lot in this shallow valley near Mt Rainier. This site was my backup plan after failing to find a route up to Electron Reservoir.

Although the location is surrounded by low hills, we had an excellent path into the greater Seattle area (50 miles) and a marginal path into Portland, Oregon (100 miles). There were lots of people on the weak-signal net this morning as we enter the christmas holiday season and I made six contacts.

Electron Resevoir, CN86vw20

Near city of Electron, Pierce County, WA, Altitude 1540

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2011-12-18

Comments by: Barry K7BWH

This name is simply too good to pass up! "Electron Resevoir" is a lake near the city of Electron, WA. And it is in CN86 which is a grid square that I need.

Unfortunately it looked like private property and the entrance was gated shut. I tried to visit on an early Sunday morning, Dec 18, 2011. The good news is that the road is nicely paved. The bad news is that it goes through the "Kapowsin Quarry" owned by Washington Rock Quarries. I drove to nearby Eatonville High School, instead.

But! The satellite maps show a possible alternate route on public roads. My lame GPS has really bad routes on forest roads. Next time, I will try this route.

Kalama Gridline, CN86na80

Near city of Kalama, Cowlitz County, WA, Altitude 36

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2011-08-05

Comments by: Barry K7BWH

This is a good operating location for reaching Portland from the north side of the CN86-CN85 grid border. I made several unscheduled contacts on both 144.210 and 432.100 USB and CW.

This is along I-5 on the Washington side of the Columbia River, where you can watch lots of recreational boats, big river barges and railroad traffic. See also Kalama Gridline CN85.

There is a park and playground just north of the grid line. The park has clean restrooms.

Kalama Ridge, CN86na93

Near city of Kalama, Cowlitz County, WA, Altitude 700

See Google map, Bing map, Mapquest, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading

Last update: 2013-01-29

Source: Lynn N7CFO PNW Rover Locations CN86

Comments by: Lynn N7CFO

This site has excellent north-south coverage on all bands. There are several possible operating locations. This is filling up with homes over the last few years, and so will be available for a limited time.

Driving directions: - I-5 exit 30, merge onto W Frontage Rd
- W Frontage Rd turns left and becomes Elm St
- Go up hill on Elm street to "T"
- Left onto N 4th St
- Take second right onto Geranium Street
- Geranium St turns left and becomes Taylor Rd
- Up hill and turn left onto Horizon Drive
- Take the first left onto "Eli Avery Ave" to cul de sac

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