Blue alpine flowers
SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT
SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT
SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT
SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly

About Snow Camp Lookout

Snow Camp Lookout sits at the peak of Snow Camp Mountain at an elevation of 4.2 ft, offering guests spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding area. The fire lookout is the most recent of three structures built atop Snow Camp Mountain. The structures onsite were used as fire lookouts and an Aircraft Warning System station during World War II. The original cabin was destroyed in the 2002 Biscuit Fire, a massive blaze that burned more than a half-million acres in Oregon and California, but was reconstructed just two years later. Today the lookout offers a unique lodging experience for guests seeking a bit of solitude and relaxation. Although the cabin offers some basic amenities, guests must bring a few of their own supplies to ensure an enjoyable stay.

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Birding

Birding

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly

Views and Setting

  • View
Missing information?

C1, Loop: AREA SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

🏠 Cabin
  • 4 guests

Site Details

Up to 4 guests
Surface: Gravel
View Site Details

Reviews (7)

What Guests Are Saying

Snow Camp Lookout offers a magical experience with stunning sunrises above the clouds. The solar lights and functional windows enhance the stay, despite continuous wind. While the location is great, the lookout itself requires significant improvements and is more basic than other lookouts.

Review Summary

4.0
7 reviews
5
42.9%
3
4
28.6%
2
3
14.3%
1
2
14.3%
1
1
0.0%
0

Melinda M

Verified

September 5, 2026 • Stayed at: C1, Loop: AREA SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

5

I parked at the saddle about 200 yards below the cabin due to very rough and steep road. Not a difficult walk! The views are tremendous! I think the outhouse is sketchy in its position right on the edge of a very steep hillside; daytime is fine, but we did not use it at night! The stars were plentiful, and the facility itself was great. The solar lights are fantastic. And the small woodstove took the chill off for the night. The place is great; the access is terrible. Such is the nature of fire lookouts! THE OREGON CHALLENGE.

MICHAEL K

Verified

August 26, 2026 • Stayed at: C1, Loop: AREA SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

5

We made the last and very steep/rutted part of the road up with a Toyota Tacoma in 'crawl' mode. Outhouse was clean despite being quite full. Windy all night but that's normal for the site. As for the road, a couple of passes with a grader at the start of summer would help access tremendously, especially for those without high-clearance or 4WD. Overall the lookout was sound, clean, and serene.

Emily D

Verified

July 31, 2026 • Stayed at: C1, Loop: AREA SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

5

Most magical place I have ever been in Oregon - waking up above the clouds to the most beautiful sunrise!

Fallon H

Verified

July 31, 2025 • Stayed at: C1, Loop: AREA SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

4

We really enjoyed our stay.. the solar lights were nice to have. The wind NEVER stopped or eased up at any point but the working windows were fantastic to help cool down the lookout.

Ken R

Verified

September 20, 2024 • Stayed at: C1, Loop: AREA SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

2

This lookout needs a lot of work. Great location but the structure needs help. It is very bare bones compared to many other lookouts.

Sierra B

Verified

November 10, 2022 • Stayed at: C1, Loop: AREA SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

3

We were able to make it up the last stretch to the lookout in a Subaru Crosstrek, but it was sketchy. At first the lookout was awesome, and we had no wind. But once nightfall hit, the wind never stopped. It was so bad, it kept me up all night. You can see where the wind has been ripping off the wood planks/siding. It was too cloudy to see the ocean for most of the stay, but we did get a little break so see it for a bit, which was really cool. The port-o-potty was horrific when we went, but I’ve heard rumors that it’s been recently cleaned. We didn’t have any visitors on our summer Saturday. Overall, I don’t need to come back here, but it was good to experience once.

Kimberly S

Verified

September 22, 2022 • Stayed at: C1, Loop: AREA SNOW CAMP LOOKOUT

4

Snow camp is a beautiful area. We were able to drive out 4x4 pickup to the lookout. The hill is steep but drive able if you’re confident and your vehicle is higher clearance. We had reception in the lookout in certain areas. Enough to text and some internet ability(T-Mobile). The door doesn’t close very well so it needs to be dead bolted to stay closed. The port-a-potty has a great view but you’ll want to block the door open while you use it to keep from being fumed out by the smell. The cook stove is cute and functional, the wood needs to be very short and small to fit in it so be prepared for that. The drive up was fairly well maintained, although the FS road numbers don’t always match up with the road signs if there are any. Download a map before you go. We saw one doe up there, lots of bear sign, and a smidge of elk sign. Overall it was a great experience. Oh definitely bring a full sized fitted sheet for the mattress.

Location & Directions for Snow Camp Lookout

29279 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, OR 97415 United States

Nearest town

Gold Beach, OR - 31 mi

About over 1 hr (77 min) to downtown

Policies & Rules

General

  • Water is not available at this facility.
  • Entry to the lookout will be by combination lock. The combination will be included in your confirmation letter. Please call the Gold Beach Ranger District office at (541)247-3600 four days prior to your arrival to confirm your combination. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed on weekends and holidays.
  • Please contact the Ranger District at (541)247-3600 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.
  • Port-Orford cedar root disease is a concern in southwest Oregon. This disease can be transported through mud or dirt on vehicles. You must wash your vehicle, including the undercarriage, before you enter National Forest lands.
  • Pets are welcome at this facility
  • All garbage and food must be packed out
  • The lookout tower is a no-smoking facility
  • Learn more about Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
  • Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 18, 2026

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Explore Gold Beach, OR

Population: 2,466

Nearby larger city

Medford, OR

Approx. 66 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 52 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service