Flag Point Lookout, Fire lookout tower in Wasco County, Oregon, US
Flag Point Lookout is a wooden fire lookout tower in Wasco County, Oregon, sitting atop Flag Point Butte at roughly 5,650 feet (1,720 m). The tower stands on a wooden structure about 60 feet (18 m) tall and has a small cabin on top with a bed, table, chairs, a wood stove, and solar lighting, though there is no running water on site.
The tower was built in 1924 and rebuilt or modified several times over the decades, with notable work done in 1932, 1955, and 1973. It is one of three remaining fire lookout structures managed by the U.S. Forest Service in the surrounding forest area.
Flag Point Lookout sits within the Badger Creek Wilderness, on the eastern side of Mt. Hood. In winter, visitors come for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, while warmer months bring hikers and horseback riders to the surrounding trails.
In winter, the only way to reach the tower is on foot by snowshoe or cross-country ski from the Billy Bob Sno-Park, a round trip that requires good preparation. There is no water on site, so visitors must carry everything they need and pack out all their waste when they leave.
The cabin at the top is equipped with a pulley system that allows visitors to haul gear and firewood up the structure without carrying everything by hand on the ladder. The tower can also sway noticeably in strong wind, which catches many visitors off guard during their stay.
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