Fivemile Butte Lookout

Really gorgeous facility- lookout was very clean and had incredible views. The vault toilet was also very clean. We saw an owl and several deer on the drive in. If you don’t get the code in an email, call the ranger station. They’re very nice. Road was fine for most vehicles as long as you don’t have lower than average clearance.

Really gorgeous facility- lookout was very clean and had incredible views. The vault toilet was also very clean. We saw an owl and several deer on the drive in. If you don’t get the code in an email, call the ranger station. They’re very nice. Road was fine for most vehicles as long as you don’t have lower than average clearance.

We had a great time at the lookout! It was in good shape and the people before us had left it very clean. The sunset was gorgeous!
We're glad we got there before the tree thinning work started.

We had a great time at the lookout! It was in good shape and the people before us had left it very clean. The sunset was gorgeous!
We're glad we got there before the tree thinning work started.

This was our first time staying in a fire lookout, and it exceeded every expectation. The road in was clear and easy to navigate, and the last few miles offered stunning views as we approached the tower. We arrived to sunny, windy skies and settled in for our first night after a cozy dinner. The wind howled through the tower, which only added to the charm—you could feel the tower shift slightly in the gusts, which made the experience all the more memorable.

The next morning, we woke early and were treated to breathtaking views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. We hiked the Eight Mile Loop mid-day, which started out clear but still had several snowy patches along the way. That afternoon was slow and peaceful, filled with games, reading, resting, and soaking in the sunset.

Our final morning brought warmth and sunshine streaming into the sleeping area. We lingered in bed, enjoyed breakfast, then packed up and headed out with full hearts.

This was such a peaceful and fun retreat. We’re incredibly grateful to the Forest Service for making it possible, and we hope others enjoy this magical place as much as we did.

This was our first time staying in a fire lookout, and it exceeded every expectation. The road in was clear and easy to navigate, and the last few miles offered stunning views as we approached the tower. We arrived to sunny, windy skies and settled in for our first night after a cozy dinner. The wind howled through the tower, which only added to the charm—you could feel the tower shift slightly in the gusts, which made the experience all the more memorable.

The next morning, we woke early and were treated to breathtaking views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. We hiked the Eight Mile Loop mid-day, which started out clear but still had several snowy patches along the way. That afternoon was slow and peaceful, filled with games, reading, resting, and soaking in the sunset.

Our final morning brought warmth and sunshine streaming into the sleeping area. We lingered in bed, enjoyed breakfast, then packed up and headed out with full hearts.

This was such a peaceful and fun retreat. We’re incredibly grateful to the Forest Service for making it possible, and we hope others enjoy this magical place as much as we did.

Overall it is a nice lookout. Lots of flies for some reason. No working lights even though the FS has been notified many times.

Overall it is a nice lookout. Lots of flies for some reason. No working lights even though the FS has been notified many times.

Always a great experience. Plenty of wood, well stocked, clean, simply wonderful. Guessing any car could access the Snow park until the next snow. Few spots of ice on the road but easily passable if cautious. I recommend bringing a Queen sheet set as it’s nice to have a bottom sheet to cover the entire mattress and the top sheet comes in handy if the wood stove is burning hot and your sleeping bag is too much. We found that micro spikes were sufficient on the frozen snow since the snowmobiles pack it down pretty well. Again, if there is another big snow (or if it warms up a lot) you might want snow shoes instead. Oh, nice to have a lightweight pair of slippers too. Have fun!

Always a great experience. Plenty of wood, well stocked, clean, simply wonderful. Guessing any car could access the Snow park until the next snow. Few spots of ice on the road but easily passable if cautious. I recommend bringing a Queen sheet set as it’s nice to have a bottom sheet to cover the entire mattress and the top sheet comes in handy if the wood stove is burning hot and your sleeping bag is too much. We found that micro spikes were sufficient on the frozen snow since the snowmobiles pack it down pretty well. Again, if there is another big snow (or if it warms up a lot) you might want snow shoes instead. Oh, nice to have a lightweight pair of slippers too. Have fun!