Although the narrow one-lane white-knuckle road reaches the summit of the mountain, the Forest Service gated it to vehicles, which necessitates walking the final few hundred yards.

In 1956 the Air Force leveled the mountain summit by removing 40 feet from the top of the peak (as well as the lookout) in order to install a radar station, which was never built.

[5] July through September are the best months to visit in terms of favorable weather and the Forest Service access road being open for the season; however, smoke from distant wildfires may potentially reduce visibility, and smoky summer conditions have been increasing with climate change.

Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.

[7] During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.