Acorn Woman Peak Lookout

About

Acorn Woman Peak Lookout is a historic L-4 style fire lookout tower constructed in 1942, now listed on the National Historic Site Registry. The compact 14x14-foot cabin features glass windows on all sides, providing unobstructed 360-degree panoramas of the rugged Siskiyou Mountains. Views extend to the Red Buttes Wilderness, Acorn Woman Lake, the Little Applegate Valley, Mt. McLoughlin, Wagner Butte, Dutchman Peak, and on exceptionally clear days, the rim of Crater Lake, Mt. Bailey, and Mt. Thielsen. The lookout operates as a primitive rental during the snow-free season, typically May through September depending on conditions. Inside, guests will find a small wooden table with a working Osborne Firefinder, plus basic supplies including a broom, mop, fire extinguisher, toilet paper, and maps. A vault toilet and fire pit are located near the cabin. There is no potable water, electricity, or other utilities. Guests must bring all essentials: drinking water, camp stove, light source, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking gear, towels, dish soap, matches, and garbage bags for pack-out. The access road is steep and winding, unsuitable for passenger vehicles or large trucks. A locked gate controls access, with the combination provided upon reservation. Visitors should be aware of rattlesnakes, ticks, and poison oak in the area, and exercise caution near the steep cliff edges.

Directions

From Jacksonville, take Highway 238 west 8 miles to Ruch. Turn left on Upper Applegate Road and proceed 10.2 miles to Forest Road 20 (Beaver Creek Road). Turn left and go 4.1 miles to the junction of FR 20 and FR 2010 (Hanley Gulch Road). Turn right and go 5.1 miles to the junction of FR 2010 and FR 2010/350. Open the locked gate with the combination provided on your reservation, re-lock behind you, and continue 1 mile to the lookout.