Facility Details - BALD BUTTE LOOKOUT, OR

Overview

Bald Butte Lookout is perched atop the windy summit of Bald Butte in the Fremont-Winema National Forest in south-central Oregon. It is surrounded by forested hillsides and expansive views.

The lookout was built in 1931 and served as a Forest Service fire detection site for over 50 years. It was constructed from an Aladdin L4 ground-mounted lookout kit in which all of the pieces were pre-cut in six-foot lengths or less so the entire kit could be packed by horses into the remote site. The total cost of the structure at the time was $668.49 and only took a few days to assemble.

At one time, hundreds of these types of lookouts were in service throughout the Pacific Northwest. Today only two such structures remain in Oregon, providing a unique lodging experience for guests seeking recreation and relaxation.

The lookout offers basic amenities, though for guests to enjoy their experience completely, they must bring several of their own supplies.

Natural Features:

Fremont National Forest is known for its towering snow-capped peaks, volcanic landscapes, wide-open sage basins, scenic vistas and wild places where visitors can still find solitude.

Nearby Gearhart Wilderness offers 22,823 acres of scenic views and primitive recreational opportunities. Throughout the remote area, streams rush through narrow meadows and Blue Lake lies nestled beneath a canopy of mixed-conifer forests. Rock formations cap most of the high elevation ridge tops.

Recreation:

Hiking, birding, stargazing and wildlife viewing are popular activities. Bald Butte Trail is a quiet all-season trail that offers a variety of terrain and wildlife viewing opportunities. Hikers traverse large open meadows filled with summer wildflowers, heavily wooded forests and ridgetop scrambles along Oak Ridge Trail and Surveyor's Ridge Trail, overlooking the Hood River Valley. Trails in the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness are also nearby.

At night the lookout provides an ideal setting for stargazing, as constellations and planets put on a dazzling display.

Facilities:

Fully accessible to visitors, the 14' x 14' lookout is furnished with a double bed and mattress, a table, bench and storage cabinets. It is also equipped with a propane heater, cook stove, refrigerator and lights. An outdoor picnic table and an accessible vault toilet are also on-site.

There is no water on site, so guests must bring sufficient supplies for drinking, cooking and washing. Guests must also provide their own sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, cooking gear, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. Although lighting is available, it is recommended that guests bring an additional light source in case of emergencies.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Accessible Sites Accessible Vault Toilets Bed(s) With Mattress Birding Hiking Historic Sites Hunting	Picnic Area Propane Lights Propane Stove Propane refrigerator Stargazing Table and Chairs Wildlife Viewing

Know Before You Go

No water is available at this site
This is an accessible site
Entry to the cabin is by combination lock. The lock combination will be provided in your reservation confirmation letter. Please stop by or call the Paisley Ranger District (541) 943-3114 to pick up the lock combination. Office hours are 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Please contact the Ranger District prior to arriving at the cabin to check on any restrictions or conditions, such as fire or road closures, weather or storms that may affect the quality of your visit.
Pets are welcome at this facility
All garbage and food must be packed out
The lookout is a non-smoking facility
Learn more about theFremont-Winema National Forest.

Due to the spread of invasive insects, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Help protect our forests by purchasing or collecting firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Click here for more information.

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
42.61417, -120.78889
42°36'51"N, 120°47'20"W

From the Paisley District Office, travel 0.5 miles north on Highway 31 and turn left on Mill Street. Stay on Mill Street to the Y junction, then turn right on Forest Road 3315. Continue on Forest Road 3315 for 21 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 28, and travel 0.5 miles to the junction with Forest Road 3411. Turn right on Forest Road 3411 and travel 2 miles to Forest Road 450. Turn right on Forest Road 450; this leads to the top of Bald Butte. The last 2 miles of road on Forest Road 450 to Bald Butte Lookout are minimally passable for low clearance or highway vehicles. The road is steep, rough and may have large rocks that should be moved. Large RVs are not recommended on this road.