Fivemile Butte Lookout

$85.00/night

6780 Highway 35, Attn: Hood River Ranger Station
Mt. Hood, OR 97041

Closure in place for Grasshopper Fire

There is a closure in place for the Grasshopper Fire, located in Hood River and Wasco Counties east of Mt. Hood. The order was updated Thursday, October 1, 2026. The closure is necessary to provide protection for forest users, firefighting personnel, and natural resources.

Mt. Hood National Forest, Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts
FOREST ORDER NO. 06-06-01-26-18

Grasshopper Fire Closure Reduction

Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on the Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts of the Mt. Hood National Forest as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A). These prohibitions will become effective October 01, 2026, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2026, or until updated or rescinded.

Going into or being upon National Forest System lands, roads, or trails within the fire closure area.

Going onto or being within an area closed for public health and safety. 36 CFR § 261.53 (e)
Being upon a closed road. 36 CFR § 261.54 (e)
Being on a closed trail. 36 CFR § 261.55 (a)

CLOSURE DESCRIPTION:

As depicted on “Exhibit A” the following area as administered by the Mt. Hood National Forest shall be closed as described:

The Fire Closure Area boundary begins at the intersection of Forest Road 48 and Hwy 35, then continues south, then east, and then north along Forest Road 48 to its intersection with the Forest Road 4860, then continues north along the 4860 to the intersection with 4814 then north to the intersection with 4811, then north to the intersection of 4810. Then continues east along the 4810 to the Forest Boundary. The line continues north along the Forest Boundary to Forest Road 44, then continues west along the 4400 to the intersection of the Forest Road 4430, then continues north to the intersection with Forest Road 1720, then continues south along Forest Road 1720 to the intersection of Forest Road 17 and Forest Road 44, then continues west along Forest Road 44 to the intersection of Forest Road 4400-620 spur, then continues along Forest Road 4400-620 to the intersection of with Trail #688 Surveyor’s Ridge , then continues west along Trail #688 Surveyor’s Ridge to the intersection of Trail #678 Zigzag, then continues west to Oregon State Highway 35. The closure then follows Oregon state Highway 35 south until it intersects with Forest Road 48, as shown on the attached map.

The closure isn’t applicable to private or state inholdings. Forest Road 44 is open from the eastern forest boundary to the intersection of 4430. Trail # 678 Zigzag and Trail # 688 Surveyors Ridge are open.

Being on any National Forest System road or associated spur roads, within the Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A) including but not limited to those and listed below. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).

FSR 2700
FSR 2710
FSR 2711
FSR 2720
FSR 2730
FSR 3520
FSR 3530
FSR 3540
FSR 44 between OR-Hwy 35 & FSR 620
FSR 44 between FSR 17 & FSR 4430
FSR 4410
FSR 4420
FSR 4421
FSR 4450
FSR 4810 west of 4811
FSR 4811 north of 4810
FSR 4812
FSR 4813
FSR 4860
FSR 4870
FSR 4880
FSR 4890
FSR 4891

Being on any National Forest System trail within the Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A) including but not limited to those below. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).

#449 Super Connector (South of FSR1720)
#450 Lookout Mountain
#455 Bottle Prairie
#456 Fifteenmile
#456A Fret Creek
#457 Cedar Creek
#458 Divide
#460 Tygh Creek
#460A Tygh Creek Cut Away
#462 Jordan Cutoff
#463 Boulder Lake
#463A Little Boulder
#463B Boulder Lake Shore
#464 Crane Prairie
#467 Post Camp
#468 School Canyon
#469 Little Badger
#471 Bonney Meadows
#472 Hidden Meadows
#473 Forest Creek
#474 Knebal Springs
#475 Rocky Butte
#477 Badger Creek Cutoff
#478 Boulder Creek
#479 Badger Creek
#480 Gumjuwac
#496 Eightmile Loop
#670 Barlow Ridge
#680 Jean Lake
#683 Underhill
#685 Gunsight Butte
#685B Camp Windy
#900 (closed north of FSR4812 junction)
#901
#902
#903
#904
#905
#907
#908
#909
#914
#916

Developed Recreations sites closed through this order include but are not limited to:

FS-Operated:

Badger Creek TH
Badger Lake CG
Billy Bob Sno Park
Bonney Meadows CG
Boulder Lake Dispersed Area
Boulder Lake TH
Fifteenmile CG
Fivemile Butte Lookout
Flag Point LO
Fret Creek TH
High Prairie TH
Little Badger CG
Little John CG
Pocket Creek Sno Park
School Canyon TH
Surveyor’s Ridge South TH
Underhill CG

ARM Operated:

Bonney Crossing CG

Lost Lake Operated:

Knebal Springs CG
Pebble Ford CG

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to Title 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

Any person with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
Any Federal, State, or local official or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
Owners or lessees of land within the closed area.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR part 261, subpart A.

Violations of these Prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both. [16 USC § 551, 18 USC § 3559 and § 3571].

PURPOSE:

The closure is necessary to provide protection for forest users, firefighting personnel, and natural resources.

Executed in Sandy, Oregon this 30th day of September, 2026.

Digitally signed 09/30/2026 by
/s/Gar Abbas
Deputy Forest Supervisor
Mt. Hood National Forest

Overview

Fivemile Butte Lookout is available for reservation year-round. It provides stellar mountain views and access to a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking and wildlife viewing. During the winter months, the lookout is popular among hunters and winter sports enthusiasts.

During winter driving conditions, from early fall to late spring, the lookout can only be accessed by skiing, snowmobiling or snowshoeing up to 3 miles one way from a parking area at the Billy Bob Sno-Park. In the summer guests can drive directly to the lookout. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for the parking area at Billy Bob Sno-park, annual or day passes can be purchased in person at the Hood River Ranger Station or online at https://www.discovernw.org/annual-northwest-forest-pass.

Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

In the summer months, visitors enjoy hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking in the area, as well as the gorgeous views from the lookout. The lookout is near Eightmile Creek and Eightmile Trail, which travels through and around a riparian area, old growth pine forests and meadows dotted with wildflowers.

The area is popular among winter sports enthusiasts as well, as the location provides access to numerous cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling trails. It is a shared winter recreation area and lookout guests should expect other winter sports enthusiasts in the area.

Facilities

The cabin is atop a 40-foot tower and is surrounded by a wooden catwalk. The 14-by-14 room is furnished with a small bed, a wood stove for heating and a table and chairs. It has a propane cook stove and solar-powered lights. There is no water on-site. An outhouse with a vault toilet is located on the ground, as well as a shed stocked with firewood. A rope and pulley system is available to transport gear, as well as firewood, up and down the tower with ease. Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes, as well as their own sleeping bags/bedding, a flashlight or lantern for emergencies, first aid kit, washcloths and towels, dish soap and garbage bags. This is a "Pack it in, Pack it out" facility; guests will need to carry out all trash and clean the facility prior to leaving.

Natural Features

The lookout was originally a small cab on a 30-foot tower, established in the 1920s. In 1932, a standard lookout tower was built to replace the earlier lookout, but was destroyed by heavy snow in 1942. A non-typical lookout structure was rebuilt at the site in 1957.

The tower sits on Fivemile Butte, at an elevation of 4,627 feet. It is surrounded by ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and western hemlock forests. Numerous creeks run through the area. A variety of wildlife, including wild turkeys, grouse and blue jays, as well as deer, elk, coyotes, cougars and bears, frequent the area.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (541) 352-6002.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Largest party: 4 people

Directions

From Dufur, Oregon, travel west on Valley Road for about 18 miles to the junction of Forest Service Roads 44 and 4430, at Billy Bob Sno-Park (the road may be plowed to the Sno-Park). Turn right on Forest Service Road 4430-120, then turn left and follow to the spur road 122. There is a gate that you will have to unlock (in winter months the gate is left open), then follow the 122 road to the end. The route is approximately 3 miles and is marked with orange and blue diamond shaped blazers. This route is not plowed, signed or patrolled. Forest Service Roads 44 and 4430 are closed from the junction of Forest Service Roads 44/4430 to Highway 35, from Dec. 1st through April 1st, prohibiting motorized vehicles over 48 inches wide without a permit. During this time and later into the year depending on snow levels, visitors should park at Billy Bob Sno-Park and hike, ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile 3 miles to the lookout. A Northwest Forest Pass is required park at the Sno-Park. Maps are available online or for purchase by calling the Barlow Ranger District.

Stay Limit

Check in from 12 PM, check out by 11 AM.

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