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Activities

Established Camping

Bald Butte Lookout

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

The rental is in need of some repair, but is still functional. Repairs will be ongoing throughout the summer. The Forest Service will try and schedule repairs when the cabin is not occupied, but please consider this when renting Bald Butte

Bald Butte Lookout in the Fremont-Winema National Forest features a landscape of forested areas and open buttes. Temperatures in the area range from highs in the 80s during summer to lows in the 20s in winter. Nearby attractions include the Summer Lake Hot Springs and the Paisley Caves, offering opportunities for exploration and relaxation.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Fremont-Winema National Forest

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.

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.

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.

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Location

Bald Butte Lookout is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Directions

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 (turns into gravel at this point) , 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 (450 is not marked, there is a sign that says Bald Butte with an arrow). 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.

Address

303 HWY 31
Paisley, OR 97636

Coordinates

42.6144 N
120.7898 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Available
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Cabins

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

Contact

General Info

Reservations


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1 Review

Reviewed Aug. 13, 2024

Beautiful lookout

Strongly advise 4x4 to get up there, stayed outside the hut and surprisingly a lot of flys. Perfect star gazing spot.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Bald Butte Lookout by Daniel W., August 13, 2024
  • Review photo of Bald Butte Lookout by Daniel W., August 13, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Bald Butte Lookout have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Bald Butte Lookout does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Bald Butte Lookout?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Bald Butte Lookout. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Bald Butte Lookout, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Bald Butte Lookout?

    There are 1 campsites at Bald Butte Lookout and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts