Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin | Eastern Oregon
The Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin is a former Oregon Forest Service lookout built in 1933. The lookout is located approximately 14 miles southwest from John Day, Oregon on Fall Mountain in the Malheur National Forest. At an elevation of 5,949 feet, the approximately 25 foot high lookout tower offers 360-degree views of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, and the surrounding valley including the distant towns of Seneca and Mt. Vernon.
As this cabin is currently available for rental use through Recreation.Gov, my friend Christian and I planned an overnight trip to the lookout cabin. We left the first week of October, and although fall had just begun, we were very surprised to experience weather that reminded us of the middle of winter. Once we drove above 4,000 feet we encountered a fairly respectable dusting of snow. 
By the time we reached the lookout cabin at nearly 6,000 feet, the snow was steady and the temperature dropped down from 45 to 28 degrees. The drive to the Fall Mountain Lookout cabin can be reached along gravel forest roads by a passenger car all the way to the tower itself. However, in inclement weather, four-wheel drive is a must. When we arrived at the tower, the wind was howling and the snow was beating us as we climbed up the tower’s steep and frozen steps to the cabin.
The Fall Mountain Lookout cabin is noted as the only recreational tower in Oregon to have electricity and certainly does have its comforts. The 14×14 foot cabin has a futon, table and chairs, electric heater, stove, and refrigerator. Two can sleep on the futon, but there is space on the cabin’s floor for a couple of sleeping bags. The lookout has glass windows on all four sides offering 360 degree views of the surrounding area and a catwalk on the outside of the cabin to walk around. 
There is no water located at the facility or any water in the surrounding area. This is a “pack it in, pack it” out location. The Forest Service has built a very nice single person vault toilet (outhouse) within 50 feet of the cabin. Located a few distant yards from the lookout tower is an old shed and a couple of radio and electricity towers. Cell phone reception was clear as there is apparently a nearby cell tower.
Truly the highlight of the trip was the winter weather. Due to the early storm, the mountain was socked in so there were not the expansive views a lookout tower could normally provide. However, for someone who enjoys the snow and cold, there was plenty of both available and certainly much earlier in the season than expected. 
We spent one stormy afternoon and evening in the lookout tower and by morning it snowed 4 to 6 inches and got down to 25 degrees. Not bad for the first week of October!
The Fall Mountain Lookout cabin would make an excellent base camp for hiking or hunting in the John Day area. As it was hunting season, we saw quite of few hunters in the area. On a clear day, the lookout would offer great views for photography and sightseeing and the 360-degree views from the tower would be a perfect place to experience sunsets and sunrises, stargazing, and the many summer thunder and lightning shows that Eastern Oregon is well known for. Plus, the lookout cabin is like a giant tree house, and well, that has an appeal all its own.
To Get There:
From John Day, travel south approximately 11 miles on Highway 395 to Forest Service Road (FSR) 3920. Continue on FSR 3920 to the junction with FSR 4920 and turn right on FSR 4920. Travel less than ¼ of a mile and turn right onto FSR 492067. Follow FSR 492067 approximately 1 mile to the lookout where you can drive up to and park next to the tower. There are fairly easy to follow “Fall Mountain” signs along the way and passenger cars shouldn’t have a problem in optimal conditions. Anything beyond that, four-wheel drive is a must.
Stumble It!
Leave a Reply