Black Butte Lookout (Deschutes NF)
US 91, OR 12
Black Butte Lookout - 2006

Black Butte Lookout - 2006 - courtesy of Ron Kemnow

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 91, OR 12 (view other lookouts in United States, Oregon)
Date Registered September 10, 1994
Nominated by Doug Newman (in 1991), Ron Johnson and Gary McAtee (1992)
Location Deschutes National Forest
Jefferson County, Oregon
Coordinates N 44° 23.990' W 121° 38.191' (view using Google Maps)
N 44° 23' 59" W 121° 38' 11"
N 44.399835° W 121.636512°
Elevation 6,360 ft (1,939 m)
Administered by U.S. Forest Service
Cooperators Sisters Ranger District and Friends of Black Butte Lookout

Description

There is an extraordinary amount of fire lookout history atop Black Butte within the Deschutes National Forest in Oregon. The original D-6 cupola lookout was built in 1922 and is still in use in 1994. In 1934 a 82’ wooden tower with 7x7’ cab was constructed for better visibility. The 1934 tower structure collapsed in the winter of 2002….due to heavy ice and snow loads during a winter storm. In 1980 a new ground quarters cabin was built and in 1994 work began on a new 65 tower with 10x 10’ cab. Black Butte is a scenic and popular hiking destination and is still staffed for fire detection.