Flag Point Lookout
Flag Point Lookout is situated on the eastern side of Mt. Hood and is surrounded by the Badger Creek Wilderness, the lookout boasts a spectacular panorama view of snow-covered treetops and rugged Cascade peaks. It provides access to a variety of recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, as well as winter sports. During winter driving conditions, the lookout can only be accessed by skiing, snowmobiling or snowshoeing either 10 or 17 miles from a parking area at Billybob Sno-park or Little John Sno-park. Winter driving conditions can occur in early fall and persist late into the spring.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Amenities & rules
| Fees | The lookout is available during winter months, from Nov. 1 to May 31. The maximum length stay is seven consecutive nights. Fees are used for the maintenance and preservation of the lookout. |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Late Spring/Early Fall Access. Prior to snowfall in the early fall, and following snowmelt in the late spring, the lookout can be accessed by passenger vehicle. AWD or 4WD is recommended. There is a gate about.2 miles before the lookout which may be locked when you arrive.
| Nearest town | Mt. Hood, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45.3178° N, 121.4653° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- During summer driving conditions the lookout can be accessed by driving, 4WD or AWD is highly recommended.
Fire nearby
- WildfireGrasshopper
5 mi from the campground · 93,972 acres · 98% contained
- PrescribedStone Ck/Clackamas Guard Station Rx - West
21 mi from the campground
- PrescribedTop Of The World Rx
29 mi from the campground
- PrescribedTracy Hill Rx
30 mi from the campground · 28 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Outer Limits Sports ↗ | 9.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Adventure Trading RV ↗ | 54 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 8 mi
- 8.4 miUmbrella/Sahalie Falls Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 mi2730-200 Flag Point Road Snow3.4 mi trail
- 0.7 miTygh Creek ↗6.6 mi trail
- 0.7 miLittle Badger ↗7.6 mi trail
- 0.7 miBadger Creek Cutoff3 mi trail
- 0.7 miDivide ↗7.7 mi trail
- 0.8 miTygh Creek Cut Away1.2 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.2 miFret Creek Trailhead ↗Mt. Hood National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Badger Creek Wilderness, which overlaps Mt. Hood National Forest.
- inBadger Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,915 acres
- inMt. Hood National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,060,160 acres
- 7.7 miMount Hood Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 64,742 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Cloud Cap InnBuilding · Mt. Hood · 10.9 mi
- Silcox HutBuilding · Timberline Lodge · 12 mi
Natural features
The tower sits in the center of the Badger Creek Wilderness, at 5,500ft of elevation, on the south east side of Mt. Hood. Of the nine peaks in Oregon's Cascade Mountain Range, Mt. Hood stands the tallest, at 11,239 feet. It is thickly forested and capped with glaciers and snow. The lookout tower is one of three Forest Service watchtowers on Mt. Hood and it is still used to spot fires during summertime each year. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area.
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 Fifteenmile Campground, and an established network of trails within the Badger Creek wilderness. 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.
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Flag Point Lookout?
Sites at Flag Point Lookout are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Flag Point Lookout?
The lookout is available during winter months, from Nov. 1 to May 31. The maximum length stay is seven consecutive nights.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Flag Point Lookout?
Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Flag Point Lookout have?
1 site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Flag Point Lookout?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Flag Point Lookout?
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 Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Flag Point Lookout?
Mt. Hood, Oregon.
Source: Getting there
What if Flag Point Lookout is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Fifteenmile Campground (2.3 mi, first-come), Badger Lake Campground (4.5 mi, first-come), and Bonney Crossing Campground (5.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby