Fivemile Butte Lookout
Open year-round. Summer allows direct vehicle access. From December 1 through April 1, Forest Service Roads 44/4430 are closed to motorized vehicles over 48 inches wide, requiring guests to ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile approximately 3 miles from Billy Bob Sno-Park. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking at the Sno-Park from November 1 through April 30. Maximum stay is 7 consecutive nights.
Air Quality Alert issued August 3 at 12:05PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Advisory, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions may cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
Air Quality Alert issued August 8 at 7:36PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Advisory, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
Air Quality Alert issued August 5 at 2:33PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Advisory, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. An Air Quality Advisory for elevated levels of ozone pollution, or smog, is in effect for Hermiston in Umatilla County. Ozone pollution is expected to reach levels that could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, pregnant people, older adults and people with heart or respiratory conditions. DEQ expected the Air Quality Advisory to last until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
About
Fivemile Butte Lookout is a unique overnight rental in Mount Hood National Forest, sitting atop a 40-foot tower at an elevation of 4,627 feet. Originally established in the 1920s as a small cab on a pole tower, the current R-6 Flat Top style lookout was built in 1957. The 14x14-foot cabin features a single bed, table and chairs, wood stove for heating, propane cook stove, and solar-powered lighting. A rope and pulley system helps transport gear up and down the tower. The lookout is surrounded by ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and western hemlock forests, with numerous creeks running through the area. Wildlife including wild turkeys, grouse, stellar's jays, deer, elk, coyotes, cougars, and bears frequent the area. The nearby Eightmile Trail offers access to riparian areas, old-growth pine forests, and wildflower meadows. Guests must bring their own water for drinking, cooking, and washing, as none is available on site. A vault toilet outhouse and firewood shed are located near the tower. There is a fire ring on the ground for campfires and barbecuing. Space is available adjacent to the tower for tent camping.
Directions
From Dufur, Oregon, travel west on Dufur Valley Road for about 18 miles to the junction of Forest Service Roads 44 and 4430 at Billy Bob Sno-Park. Follow FSR 44 to the junction of FSR 4430 and turn right onto FSR 4430-120, then turn left and follow to spur road 122. Unlock the gate (left open in winter), then follow road 122 to the end. The route from Billy Bob Sno-Park is approximately 3 miles and is marked with orange and blue diamond-shaped blazers.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $85 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (541) 467-2291 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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