Flag Point Lookout in OR -- Campground & RV Camping

Perched atop a 40-foot tower at 5,500 feet elevation on Mt. Hood's eastern slope, this historic lookout offers a 14-by-14 cabin surrounded by an outdoor catwalk. The rustic room includes a wood-heating stove, propane cook stove, small bed, table, solar lights, and a pulley system to hoist gear. An outhouse and wood shed sit below. Enclosed by the Badger Creek Wilderness, the tower serves as an active summer fire lookout with access to mountain biking, Fifteenmile Campground, wilderness trails, and winter snowsports.

Getting there: Late Spring/Early Fall Access: Prior to snowfall in the early fall, and following snowmelt in the late spring, the lookout can be accessed by passenger vehicle. AWD or 4WD is recommended. There is a gate about .2 miles before the lookout which may be locked when you arrive. The combination to the gate is the same combination provided to access the lookout tower. Please leave the gate in which you found it upon arrival. Driving from Hood River/Portland/Sandy – take highway 35 to FS road 44 (Dufur Valley Road), turn northeast onto FS road 44 and continue approximately 10 miles to the junction with FS road 2730. Turn right onto FS road 2730 and continue approximately 5 miles to the junction with FS road 2730-200, turn right onto 2730-200 and continue approximately 3.5 miles to Flag Point lookout tower. Driving from Dufur/The Dalles – take Highway 197 to FS Road 44 (Dufur Valley Road). Follow FS Road 44 west approximately 12 miles to the junction with FS road 2730. Turn left onto FS road 2730 and continue approximately 5 miles to the junction with FS road 2730-200, turn right onto 2730-200 and continue approximately 3.5 miles to Flag Point lookout tower. Winter Access: FS Road 44 (Dufur Valley Road) is closed from Highway 35 to the junction with FS Road 4430 from Dec. 1st through April 1st, prohibiting motorized vehicles over 48 inches wide without a permit. During the winter months and periods of snowfall, access to the lookout is restricted to parking at either Little John Sno-Park or Billybob Sno-Park and skiing, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling to the lookout. Please note this trip requires strenuous winter condition backcountry travel. Driving from Dufur/The Dalles and parking at Billybob Sno-park: take highway 197 to FS Road 44 (Dufur Valley Road). Follow FS Road 44 west approximately 17 miles to Billybob Sno-Park. Park in the parking area and follow FS road 44 west to the junction with FS Road 4420. Head south on FS Road 4420 to the junction with 4420-200. Turn south on to FS Road 4420-200 and arrive at Flag Point lookout. Driving from Hood River/Portland/Sandy and parking at Little John Sno-park: take highway 35 to Little John Sno-park. Park in the parking area and follow trail 620 to the junction with FS road 44, follow FS road 44 to the junction with FS Road 4420, head south on FS Road 4420 to the junction with 4420-200. Turn south on to FS Road 4420-200 and arrive at Flag Point lookout.

• Well separated here, a single-site campground with the nearest through road 2.0 miles off.
• Flat ground is scarce: under a tenth of the terrain within a few hundred yards is level.
• Cabins and shelters rather than pads.
• Sunrise Springs lies 0.4 mi off.
• Mount Hood stands 5,667 ft above the map pin, 12 miles west.

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