One of my favorite activities is finding a place to watch the sun set in the mountains. This is an experience unlike any you get on a day hike. The forest typically gets very calm, wildlife may appear for a final snack and drink of water. Things just generally slow down and I find it to be very peaceful.
Unfortunately backpacking into a camp and setting up for a night on the ground with no bathroom facilities is not an option that everyone can do or even wants to. How you could not want to do that is beyond me but I'll leave that for another post. ;-) Well if you are one of the former there is good news for you. By renting a Forest Service Lookout you can sleep indoors on a cot or bed, have a nice warm fire and your very own outhouse. All for $65 a night with a two day minimum on weekends.
There are several of these options throughout the state but the one described above is called the Gold Butte Lookout. It is 65 miles SE of Salem and has great views of the Cascade Range, including nearby Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Hood, the Three Sisters, and Bull of the Woods Wilderness Area.
To find out how to reserve the Gold Butte Lookout visit the Willamette National Forest website. More information on lookouts in the Willamette National Forest can be found here. Traveling to other parts of the Northwest? Information on other lookout rentals can be found here.
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2 comments:
That looks cool
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me. water resistant backpack
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