Pine Mountain Lookout

A nature wonderland. The structure warms up during late summer nights. Agile feet necessary. Vault toilet same. Stargazing with minimal light pollution. Wildlife... you are their guest. Note, long way to the hospital.

Excellent sunset views and cute little cabin! Drive definitely needs higher clearance vehicle once you’re on the forest roads. CRV handled it well.

Warning for anyone currently going - baby rattlesnakes!!!! The area around the lookout has a rocky area with steps and I got my Indiana Jones moment with snakes! If you are bringing dogs or children please be cautious. Be very cautious and watch where you step! Wear boots and know that the snakes really loved warming themselves on the rocks going up to the structure.

Honestly, the views, fun off road driving and amazing historic structure were a 5 star. The pit toilet was super clean. The inside of the cabin was what you’d expect and rustic. I’m may try this spot again outside rattlesnake season. My husband and I camp with a kid and 2 dogs. That was too many feet/paws on the ground for an area with very active baby rattlesnakes. Knowing it takes about an hour to get out if there was an emergency, we left.

Great time at the fire lookout. Do not use Google Maps; use the directions from this website's PDF of the map. Next time, I'm bringing an axe to chop firewood instead of buying some on the way up. OK cellphone reception from the cabin area. We traveled up in a Prius and had difficulty getting over some of the ruts in the road but we made it up there. Next time I'm coming up, I'm renting a car with higher clearance to save my anxiety while driving up to the top of the mountain. Great two nights for peace and quiet!

This was awful. The road to the cabin is not at all maintained and full of potholes, pits, and downed trees. When I arrived, the gate lock was stuck. When I got to the cabin, I discovered that someone had knocked the doorknob out and jammed the door, and that the combination lock had been ripped off. I left because clearly it was not a safe situation and I couldn't even get inside the cabin. I submitted a refund request over two weeks ago and haven't heard back.

This was our second time staying at the Pine Mt. Lookout. The site was clean and quiet. The sunsets there are beautiful. We’ll be back again.

The entry gate padlock is broken and lock to the lookout cabin is no longer there for what it's worth. The site itself is fine with the amenities that are listed. Local area is slowly recovering from wildfire damage, which was extensive. Nearby Lake Pillsbury is suffering from algae toxins caused by drought so no swimming is recommended and may actually be drained in the near future. Went unknowingly at the end of hunting season so was deterred from hiking the area. But again, the site itself is fine for a getaway. Would like to explore the Eel River area in the future. Recommended.

When they say firewood is available on site, they mean several cords of wood are onsite… because the forest Ece toy burned, and many hazard trees have been felled and sawn into rounds. There are still a lot of hazard trees around, so I decided not to hike around the lookout at all. If you want somewhere that is QUIET this spot brings it. The only noises I heard was a handful of airplanes, a few gunshots, and maybe one vehicle passed a day. I would come back. There is an ADA-friendly vault toilet at the bottom of the hill, near the picnic table, big fire ring with grate, and locked equipment shed. Up the hill (not far, less than 50 yds) is the lookout building with little bbq in front. There is no ramp to the door, there are stairs. The lookout has a front room and there’s a door to the back room which has the three sides of windows. Cute little building if you’re into older things. Overall a good spot to go sit on a mountain. Down the hill on the Ukiah side the Eel River is right by the road. Would love to come back and look for a clean swimming hole or creek. The road on the Ukiah and the Upper Lake sides is pretty decent hard-packed dirt. Yes you really could do it in a car, however I happened to do it in a pickup. While there are lots of ATV and dirt bike (OHV) roads, I didn’t hear any up by the lookout. I would go again :)

I would suggest bringing an air mattress. The cots aren’t what I’d imagined. The surrounding area is beautiful. The lookout is like camping with a roof. Very peaceful.

Do not follow Apple Maps directions. It takes you to a locked pg&e gate. Google maps took us right to the cabin. Beautiful views, the cots to sleep on were nice. For being out in the middle of no where there were a lot of trucks on the road. It was hunting season. We would stay here again. Oh, the bats that come out at dusk are wild, so many flying around. Made me not wanna be outside.