Grid Square DN06

12 locations - Shotgun Ridge - Saddle Mtn Peak - Saddle Mtn Nike - Ritzville - Horse Heaven Hills - Calloway Road - Wild Horse Overlook - I-90 Vantage Viewpoint - Sentinel Ridge - Jump Off Joe Butte - Frenchman Hills - Nine Canyon Road

Potential VHF rover sites in Washington grid DN06. Be careful.
DN06 dimensions are 95.2 by 69.2 miles.
Explore this grid in Google Earth or equivalent: DN06 locations KML
Hover mouse over a map marker for more about the grid and site.

Shotgun Ridge, DN06ad21

Near city of Mabton, Yakima County, WA, Altitude 1955
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-06-12
Comments by: Ward KD1RX

This is a nice spot on township road south of Mabton, WA. Great views of the horizon in nearly all directions. Good path into the Tri-Cities and Hermiston.

We've taken to calling it "shotgun ridge" because during our visit a very nice gentlemen with very large guns was blasting away for target practice.

Driving directions:
From I-82 in Prosser, find your way to Hwy 221 and Horse Heaven Vista.
Continue straight south, turning south onto Beit James Rd
Turn west onto Sellards Rd
Turn west again onto McKinley Springs Rd which becomes township Rd
Look for the gravel pit.

Saddle Mtn Peak, DN06ft33

Near city of Mattawa, Grant County, WA, Altitude 2664
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2017-12-14
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

At the peak of Saddle Mountain is a short drive up a steep rise, offering an ideal VHF operating location. The ground drops away steeply in all directions. There are commercial towers a short distance away.

Driving directions:

Use Hwy 24 for an easy drive on 5 miles of mostly-paved roads. Turn left at the "tee" with the sign "Saddle Mtn Overlook" for a narrow dirt road to the peak, or turn right for the nearby DN06gt paved parking.

Hwy 24 comes up from the south side Saddle Mtn range; there is no access from the north, in spite of what Google Maps or GPS routing software might tell you. I explored it thoroughly from Corfu and around the Lower Crab Creek, and it would require a gate key and permission from the company that owns intervening land.

Restrictions: Popular with hunters.

Saddle Mtn Nike, DN06gt60

Near city of Mattawa, Grant County, WA, Altitude 1955
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2017-12-14
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

This is a decomissioned Nike missile site with paved road access and a large flat concrete parking apron. The altitude is lower than the DN06gt peak by about 700' but the driving access and camping is much easier.

Driving directions:

Use Hwy 24 for an easy drive on the last 5 miles of mostly-paved roads. Turn right at the sign "Saddle Mtn Overlook, 1 mile" for the Nike site, or left for a narrow dirt road to the peak. Hwy 24 is on the south side Saddle Mtn range; it is not possible to approach from the north side (Othello, Royal City) unless you have a gate key and permission from the company that owns intervening land.

Restrictions: No services. Popular with sightseers.

Ritzville, DN06qx09

Near city of Ritzville, Adams County, WA, Altitude 2500
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2019-07-23
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

The DN06-DN07 grid line conveniently lies upon this road and local high spot in Eastern Washington, south of Moses Lake and Ritzville. You might be able to find a way to activate both grids from the edge of the road.

Driving directions: Take Hwy 21 from Ritzville to Lind.
Turn off at the unpaved Roloff Rd and Hwy 21 intersection.
Watch your GPS for the exact 47 degrees grid line.

Restrictions: Stay off private land and fields.

Horse Heaven Hills, DN06fg50

Near city of Benton City, Benton County, WA, Altitude 1820
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2015-10-08
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

McBee Road takes you high above the Yakima/Richland valley. From the I-82 freeway far below you can see the slash cut into the slopes above. It seems like it would be easy to reach as a stop along the way.

Driving directions: From I-82 near the Tri-Cities, take Exit 96.
Drive south on Webber Canyon Road.
Turn right onto N McBee Road.
Drive 4.0 miles, keep right at the top.

Calloway Road, DN06ux46

Near city of Ritzville, Adams County, WA, Altitude 2000
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2001-10-06
Comments by: Martin N7MX

High ground in the boonies, southeast of Ritzville. Good rover stop.

Driving directions: From the Ritzville-Benge Road going north towards I-90:
- Turn right on Calloway Road
- Go about a mile to the top of the hill
- The high ground is near a farmhouse on the left

Wild Horse Overlook, DN06ax41

Near city of Vantage, Grant County, WA, Altitude 1200
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2012-07-02
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

I-90 (eastbound) roadside viewpoint overlooking the Columbia River at mile 140. There is another viewpoint accessible from the westbound lanes. This location has excellent exposure to the west, north and south, but the path to the east is blocked by a ridge.

These viewpoints are a bit lower than DN06 Frenchman Hills, but they offer extremely quick access to nice places to pull off.

I-90 Vantage Viewpoint, DN06ax33

Near city of Vantage, Grant County, WA, Altitude 1100
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2012-07-02
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

I-90 (westbound) roadside viewpoint overlooking the Columbia River at mile 140. There is another viewpoint (Wild Horse Overlook) accessible from the eastbound lanes. This location has excellent exposure to the west, north and south, but the path to the east is blocked by a ridge.

These viewpoints are a bit lower than DN06 Frenchman Hills, but they offer extremely quick access to nice places to pull off.

Sentinel Ridge, DN06bt45

Near city of Vantage, Grant County, WA, Altitude 2365
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2002-01-28
Comments by: Robert N7AU

Repeater site southeast of Vantage. DeLorme Topo map says you can see Mt. Rainier from there.

Driving directions: On the East side of the Columbia river on I-90 turn south onto Hwy 26
- Then take Hwy 243 south again.
- Travel approximately 13 miles and take the turn to Mattawa on the left.
- Watch your speed - it's 25 in town.
- Just outside of town (East) turn Left (North) onto Rd R.
- Stay on Rd R and when you cross the canal keep to the left of the fence
- Stay on this road until you get to the top where all the microwave sites are.
- You should find enough room to get away for any thing that will cause RFI

- Caution: when cresting the ridge, take it slow and take a look. THE OTHER SIDE MAY NOT HAVE A ROAD UNTIL YOU HIT THE BOTTOM - straight down.

Jump Off Joe Butte, DN06kc44

Near city of Kennewick, Benton County, WA, Altitude 2500
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2001-12-01
Comments by: Jerry N7FYP

Easily accesible butte. Numerous radio towers in the area. Excellent exposure in all directions.

Driving directions: Best to look at a local map for this one.
- Get to Owens Road, south of Kennewick and go south.
- Go east on Jump Off Joe Road.

Frenchman Hills, DN06bx18

Near city of Quincy, Grant County, WA, Altitude 1867
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2012-07-08
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

This hilltop in farmland is about 15 minutes from I-5. It offers a local high point along the north edge of DN06. Strongly advised to use 4WD for the last bit along a wheat field.

Propagation into the Seattle area is generally very good, but some stations don't have eastward paths from their home location. Propagation into Portland was okay on 6m but very bad on 2m.

Note that DN07 is nearby but you have to loop around to DN07 Beverly-Burke a mile west to stay on a hilltop. The nearest entry to DN07 from here would be on Road R, which would be at the bottom of this big hill.

I've always wondered why everyone says to be bring toilet paper. On this trip, I finally found out what it's good for: just the right size to prop up my gear. (See photo.)

Driving directions: From I-5 drive 7 miles east from Vantage and take exit 143 for Silica Road.
- Turn right onto Road U (what an original name).
- Turn left onto Road 5 (see? brilliant name).
- Take the first right onto Road 5.5 / Road T.
- Turn right onto Road S
- Drive to top of hill, at the ancient combine turn right into the field
- Drive along the edge of the field to the top
Note: This could be reached from the south via Highway 26, but the road is a poor dirt track and would be impassable in rain or snow.

Nine Canyon Road, DN06ka69

Near city of Kennewick, Benton County, WA, Altitude 1770
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2011-08-07
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

This lofty location above Kennewick and the Tri-Cities should have good radio propagation in all directions. However, no UHF contacts were made during the contest. I made a 144 MHz simplex contact with N7NKT in Hermiston, OR, so maybe that's a better direction from this spot.

I don't know if the line-of-sight was bad or if there was just nobody on the air. Next time, I will try another nearby spot a bit closer to the city, somewhere around the Jump-Off Joe peak.