The Long Way
Douglas County
A snowy landscape with a winding track and evergreen trees seen from an elevated walkway.
Plate I. Snowy view from Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov
A view of a snowy forest and mountains from under a roof with icicles.
Plate II. Snowy view from Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov
An outdoor wooden outhouse stands in a grassy area with trees.
Plate III. Vault toilet, Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov
A woman sits at a desk inside a fire lookout tower with windows looking out over mountains.
Plate IV. Interior cabin, Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov
An interior view of a fire lookout tower with a bed, desk, and large windows overlooking a mountainous landscape.
Plate V. Cabin interior, Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov
A view of forested mountains from inside a building through an open window.
Plate VI. View from window, Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov
A tall wooden fire lookout tower stands among trees under a clear blue sky.
Plate VII. Pickett Butte Lookout tower. From recreation.gov
A view of a densely forested mountain landscape.
Plate VIII. Forest view from Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov
An elevated view looking down a wooden staircase inside an old tower structure.
Plate IX. Steep stairway, Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov
The interior of a fire lookout tower with windows looking out at a forested mountain view.
Plate X. Cabin interior, Pickett Butte Lookout. From recreation.gov

Pickett Butte Lookout

Tiller, Douglas County, Oregon. Fire lookout tower rental; October 15 - June 15.

Details

Map. Tiller, Douglas County, Oregon. Larger map
Where
Tiller, Douglas County, OR. No street address stated. Directions
When
Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 12:00 p.m.
Getting there
From Tiller take County Road 46 (South Umpqua Road) three miles to Pickett Butte Road #3113; follow Forest Service Road #3113 five miles to Forest Service Road #3113-300; follow 3113-300 two miles to the lookout. Road not snow plowed.
Fees
Overnight Use: $40 per night.
Access
Site Open; potable water is not available at this site; vault toilet.
Walk-in or reserve
Reserved through Recreation.gov; entry is by combination lock with the code included in the reservation confirmation letter; vehicle access past the road gate is permitted with the reservation.
Phone
541-496-3532
Website
fs.usda.gov
Managed by
Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest.
Established
Built 1934; current flat top tower 1948.
Coordinates
42.943699, -122.8547.

Fire lookout tower atop Pickett Butte in Umpqua National Forest, southwest Oregon; one-room cabin reached by a narrow steep stairway, with panoramic views over the Jackson Creek Drainage and the lands around the town of Tiller.

Notable Events

  1. 1898Homesteader William T. Pickett rode into the area on horseback and decided to stay and build a life and home. recreation.gov
  2. 1934The original lookout was a 25-foot tower. fs.usda.gov
  3. 1948The original tower was replaced with the current flat-top structure. fs.usda.gov

People

  • William T. Pickett, Homesteader for whom Pickett Butte was named (1898).

Sources

  1. fs.usda.gov/r06/umpqua/recreation/pickett-butte-lookout
  2. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234149
  3. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pickett_Butte_Lookout
  4. fs.usda.gov/visit/destination/pickett-butte-lookout-umpqua-national-forest