Sweater, gloves, and beanie–At 4,618 feet elevation, nights are pretty chilly, even in mid-July.Ĥ-wheel drive vehicle–Most of the terrain leading to the tower and surrounding trails are steep, unpaved roads. Water–Bring enough water for the entire stay, Detroit Oregon Ranger Station is a 40-minute drive and is the nearest location to fill up on water They weren’t gross, but I would recommend bringing the same sleeping supplies as a camping trip.įood– Freeze-dried food will be easier, lighter, and requires less water.Ĭooler–There is no fridge, so if you plan on bringing booze or actual food, you will need a cooler and ice. Keep in mind, this is not a 5-star hotel with maid service I don’t think they clean the linens between each use. Sleeping bag -The tower has plenty of pillows but does not include blankets and sheets. Come prepared for a backpacking experience in order to avoid making multiple trips up the steep ascent to the tower which sits at 4,618 feet in elevation. Oregon’s Gold Butte Fire Lookout overlooks the Willamette National Forest and is located two hours outside of Portland. What To Expect When Staying At The Gold Butte Fire Tower Reservations open at 9 am CST six months in advance and they out fast, so sign up and log in, have your tower picked, and have the reservation page ready a few minutes ahead of time. Check out the Forest Fire Lookout Association for a map of fire lookout rentals across the nation. Guests to the Crystal Peak Lookout climb up to the one-room, red cabin via a set of stairs. Advancements in technology have rendered most of these mountain lookouts obsolete and are now available for rent at. These one-room cabins, built on stilts, peaks, or in trees provided 360 views and served as early fire detection and Aircraft Warning System during World War II. Gold Butte Fire lookout is among hundreds of fire towers built from the 1930s to ’50s by the US Forest Service.

Firewatch tower rental oregon