Lookout rental · U.S. Forest Service · Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest · Brookings, OR

Quail Prairie Lookout

Quail Prairie Lookout offers guests a unique lodging experience in the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest in western Oregon. On a clear day, visitors are treated to spectacular views of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness from the top of the 41-foot tower. The tower was completed in 1963 and served as one of the last lookouts built by the southwestern Oregon Forest Service until the mid 1990's, when it was converted for recreational purposes. Today campers can enjoy a unique lodging experience in the historic structure, which offers basic amenities and spectacular views of the surrounding area.

Lookout rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 site
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Lookout tower from below with sign in foreground and blue sky in the background.QUAIL PRAIRIE LOOKOUTQUAIL PRAIRIE LOOKOUTQUAIL PRAIRIE LOOKOUT
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins1
This lookout is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfacePeople / vehicles
C1Gravel4 / –

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

The one-room lookout rests on the top of a 41-foot timber tower, surrounded by a catwalk. It is furnished with a single bed, a table and two chairs, a stool, broom and fire extinguisher. It also features a wood stove, a propane stove for cooking and a propane refrigerator. A vault toilet is located near the tower. There is no water or electricity available at the site. Guests must bring water for drinking, cooking and washing. In addition, visitors will need to supply a light source, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking gear, towels, dish soap, matches, a first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. Firewood is provided.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Quail Prairie Lookout40°50°60°70°January: 13.06 inches of precipitationFebruary: 9.86 inches of precipitationMarch: 9.98 inches of precipitationApril: 6.73 inches of precipitationMay: 3.89 inches of precipitationJune: 1.92 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.51 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.49 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.77 inches of precipitationOctober: 5.96 inches of precipitationNovember: 9.97 inches of precipitationDecember: 13.87 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 48.9°F averageFebruary: 49.6°F averageMarch: 50.4°F averageApril: 51.6°F averageMay: 55.2°F averageJune: 58.7°F averageJuly: 60.7°F averageAugust: 59.7°F averageSeptember: 59.5°F averageOctober: 56.4°F averageNovember: 51.5°F averageDecember: 49.5°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Brookings 2 SE, 18 miles from the campground at 50 feet, station USC00351055 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 78 inches a year.

Getting there

From Brookings and U.S. Highway 101, drive east on North Bank Chetco River Road (County Road 784). This becomes Forest Service Road 1376 in approximately 8 miles. Turn left after crossing the South Fork Bridge (16 miles from Brookings). Turn right on Forest Service Road 1917, approximately 1 mile after the bridge.

Nearest townBrookings, Oregon
Coordinates42.2367° N, 124.0450° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗17.5 mi
Outdoor gearRogue Outdoor Store ↗22.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.5 mi
    Upper Chetco ↗
    19.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 2.5 mi
    Bronson Way
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.8 mi
    Boulder Tie
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 3.1 mi
    Mislatnah
    2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.5 mi
    Tincup ↗
    18.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.9 mi
    Johnson Butte ↗
    6.1 mi trail · hiking, horse

Trailheads within three miles

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Kalmiopsis Wilderness, which overlaps Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The lookout affords panoramic views of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and the Chetco River drainage. The Kalmiopsis Wilderness is an area of great geological and botanical interest. Many of the rocks were formerly parts of the oceanic crust, while diverse plant life provides evidence of adaptation to the area's harsh soils. The Kalmiopsis leachian, a shrub discovered in the Gold Basin area in 1930, is a relic of the pre-ice age. The Kalmiopsis Wilderness is named after this unique endemic plant. Diverse landscapes provide habitat for a wide-range of wildlife, from spotted owls and black-tail deer to salamanders and salmon. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, undisturbed wetlands, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.

Recreation

The nearby Upper Chetco Trail is the main east/west route through the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. It offers access to the Chetco River and two main tributaries. Heavy vegetation provides shade but eliminates most views, and at least three significant long and steep sections provide a challenging backpacking experience. Anglers will enjoy the remote location and scenic backdrop of the nearby Chetco River, providing angling opportunities for trout, steelhead, and salmon in season. The Chetco starts in steep, deeply dissected, sparsely vegetated, mountainous terrain within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. At night the lookout is an ideal setting for stargazing, as constellations and planets put on a dazzling display.

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 Quail Prairie Lookout?

Sites at Quail Prairie Lookout are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Quail Prairie Lookout?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Quail Prairie Lookout have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Quail Prairie Lookout?

The nearby Upper Chetco Trail is the main east/west route through the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Quail Prairie Lookout?

Brookings, Oregon.

Source: Getting there

What if Quail Prairie Lookout is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are South Fork (5.6 mi), Nook Bar (8.4 mi), and Miller Bar (9.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby