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 Photo The Springfield News Indian Ridge Lookout can be rented from mid July to September for $40 per night. The rustic building has two twin beds, a table, chairs and shieves for storage. There is no heat source, so visitors may wish to bring some sort of propane heater. |
Lofty views -- Historic fire lookout tower offer an eye catching view of Oregon's wild lands
Saturday, January 7, 2006 11:22 PM PST
By The Springfield News
Printable version
E-mail this articleWith mountaintop settings, serene isolation and an expansive view, fire lookouts in the Willamette National Forest have plenty to offer.
As new methods for spotting fires have evolved over the last few decades, the majority of the forest's lookouts have disappeared. Prior to 1927, construction of lookouts in the Willamette was sporadic, with about 20 lookout houses total. By 1936, there were roughly 65, but that number eventually began to dwindle.
The need for fire lookouts waned as the telephone gave way to the CB radio for communication, extensive road building for timber harvest improved access, and aerial surveillance was phased in.
As the Forest Service's role shifted toward timber management, more people were able to watch for fire as they did their jobs in the woods. As this new fire detection system evolved, many of the lookout stations were abandoned. By the mid-1960s, most of the early lookouts had been removed. A few new ones were built since, and some of the older ones restored.
There are still some lookouts in place. And today, almost anyone can visit these special places, take in the view and gain an appreciation for the people who built and worked in them to protect wilderness from wildfire.
The Willamette has nine lookout towers, three of which can be reached by taking the McKenzie travel corridor just east of Springfield.
• Carpenter Mountain Lookout
Many of the lookouts require little actual hiking to reach despite the elevation required to spot smoke from a distant fire.
Access to lookouts does vary, but generally requires driving along the forest back roads and hiking along trails of varied length and difficulty. Along the way, travelers are likely to encounter other wonders of the forest, and upon arrival, an impressive view.
The Willamette National Forest stretches for 110 miles along the western slopes of the Cascades. At 1.6 million acres, the forest spans a diverse landscape shaped by glaciers, volcanoes and tectonic plates. There are 1,400 miles of trails that weave through the mountain peaks, rock pinnacles, lava fields, craters and cinder cones.
Carpenter Mountain Lookout, built in 1934, towers above the forest at 5,349 feet, but the trail that leads to it is short. The moderate 1-mile jaunt features impressive rock formations. Wet meadows on the south slope nurture interesting flowers and berries.
Situated atop a basalt plug, the location offers an impressive view of the McKenzie River Valley, but that's just the beginning. Under clear conditions, visitors will see the Cascade Crest, Mount Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, the Three Sisters, Mount Washington and an exposed monolith called Wolf Rock. Sand Mountain and Iron Mountain lookouts are also both visible from there.
• Sand Mountain Lookout
Situated in the High Cascades between the Mount Jefferson and the Mount Washington wildernesses, this lookout watches over a geological area of special interest. A formation that consists of a series of cinder cones is aligned along a fault. The unusual volcanic phenomenon is easily viewed from the summit after an easy quarter-mile hike.
Also visible are the Black Sand Flats and the Sand Mountain Burn area. Mount Washington rises sharply and spectacularly over Big Lake directly to the East. The Three Sisters and the accompanying wilderness are vividly detailed to the southeast. Iron Mountain, Carpenter Mountain, and Coffin Mountain lookouts can be seen with binoculars.
Fire lookouts exhibit a distinctive architectural style that is compact, conservative and efficient. The structure at Sand Mountain is a replica of the original, a "grange hall" style building with a gable roof.
• Indian Ridge Lookout
Indian Ridge is a flat-topped tower that is maintained as a rental. The mountaintop features open beargrass and huckleberries. Several rocky outcroppings are covered by wildflowers and mossy vegetation, depending on the season. From the northern edge of the meadow, Hidden Lake is visible below. The Three Sisters are close and prominent to the northeast, along with accompanying views of the Cascade Crest both north and south. Sand Mountain, Carpenter Mountain and Iron Mountain lookouts are visible with binoculars.
Indian Ridge was built in 1958 at an elevation of about 5,400 feet. If the rental is occupied, a barrier will stop vehicles below the final approach. A trail takes off on the left through alpine trees and grass, where visitors can explore the mountaintop. If the gate is open, visitors can take the easy quarter-mile walk to the lookout.
For more information about Indian Ridge, Carpenter and Sand Mountain lookouts, call McKenzie River Ranger District at (541) 822-3381.
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