Quail Prairie Lookout
US 467, OR 64

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 467, OR 64 (view other lookouts in United States, Oregon)
Date Registered March 1, 2003
Location Siskiyou National Forest
Siskiyou County, Oregon
Coordinates N 42° 14.510' W 124° 02.738' (view using Google Maps)
N 42° 14' 31" W 124° 02' 44"
N 42.241830° W 124.045630°
Elevation 3,179 ft (969 m)
Built 1963
Administered by U.S. Forest Service
Cooperators Chetco Ranger District
Available for Rental Yes, learn more

Description

While the giant Biscuit Fire burned for weeks in the summer of 2002, Quail Prairie Lookout saw it all. It is one of the most recent new lookout locations in southwestern Oregon on the Siskiyou National Forest. The R-6 flattop with live-in cab and catwalk is on a guyed 41' treated timber tower and is in active service.

Map

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Visit Reports

September 17, 2015: Jeffrey Stone

Condition

Needs paint? Yes
Shutters OK? No Response
Condition of wood OK? No Response
Stairs OK? No Response
Glass intact? No Response
Good condition? No Response
Comments: Trashed. It looks like it's beyond repair. Hard to believe that it was being rented as recently as 2007. The lower stairway has been lowered to the ground. A piece of the roof appears to be missing. Water is coming through the floor. Some shutters are missing and broken windows are evident. The storage building below the cab has been broken into.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? No

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? No
Directions to tower signed? Yes

Staffing

Staffed? No

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? No Response
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? No Response

October 8, 2007: Erik Martin

Condition

Needs paint? Yes
Shutters OK? Yes
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? Yes
Good condition? Yes
Comments: The paint is beginning to peel on the south side of the fire lookout. Nothing serious, but will probably need a touch up prior to the 2008 season.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? No

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? No
Directions to tower signed? Yes
Comments? On Friday October 5th, my wife and I were traveling to the Quail Prairie Fire Lookout that is approximately 26 miles outside of the cities of Brookings-Harbor, Oregon. At about the 21st mile, there is a cattle guard that spans the width of the Forest Service Road leading up to the Lookout. There was a large pot hole abutting the cattle guard. We were traveling at approx. 20 mph when we hit the pothole and cattle guard. The rim of our vehicle incurred serious damage (tire blew out, rim was dented). Luckily we were able to ferry the vehicle the rest of the way to Quail Prairie for the night, and all the way back to Brookings in the morning on our spare tire. To that end, on the way back into town, I passed the cattle guard and took several photos of the pot hole. I also notified the Forest Service of the incident. There was no warning sign that there was a cattle guard, and there was only one black and yellow caution sign adjacent that was covered by the bushes. Even so, I did not notice the pot hole until it was too late. $350 later, my rim was fixed and we headed back to the lookout for the second night. Despite the turmoil, my wife and I still had a wonderful time and look forward to our next trip.

Staffing

Staffed? No

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? Yes
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? Yes
I am interested in volunteering to help support fire lookout staffing and or preservation.