Indian Ridge Lookout
The Indian Ridge Lookout sits at an elevation of 5,405 feet in the Willamette National Forest. Built in 1958, the lookout was used for firefighting by Forest Service personnel until 1973. The lookout is still staffed occasionally during emergencies. The lookout is accessible by car, although the access road is rocky. Guests must be prepared to climb steep, narrow steps up the 30-foot tower to access the lookout's cabin. The accommodations are primitive, so guests should be prepared to pack in most of their own supplies and gear.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | People / vehicles | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Gravel | 4 / 4 | No |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 25 ft |
The 16x16-ft. cabin sleeps 4 and is equipped with 2 twin beds with foam mattresses, a table with chairs, broom and dust pan, mop and storage shelves. An outhouse with vault toilet is located 50 feet from the lookout and a picnic table and fire ring are outside. No heat, electricity or water are available. Guests must bring their own water for drinking, cooking and washing. Propane cook stoves and lanterns are recommended, since they create fewer fumes than liquid gas appliances. Items such as a cook stove, bedding, flashlights, dishes and cookware, matches, extra toilet paper, first aid supplies, trash bags, dish soap, towels and an ice chest are not available. Guests are expected to pack out their trash and clean the cabin before leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Blue River, OR, travel 4 miles east on Highway 126 to Aufderheide Drive/Forest Service Road (FSR) 19. Continue south on Aufderheide Drive, taking a right at the Y and climbing to the top of Cougar Reservoir. Continue south on Aufderheide Drive past Cougar Reservoir 7 miles to FSR 1980.
| Nearest town | Mckenzie Bridge, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44.0052° N, 122.2554° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCamas Ts Rx
29 mi from the campground
- PrescribedJunction Rx
39 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx Cold Springs
48 mi from the campground · 158 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | The RV Store ↗ | 35 mi |
| RV sales & service | Oregon West RV ↗ | 37.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Cabela's ↗ | 39.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
A short trail to Hidden Lake offers access to alpine swimming and sunbathing.
- 5.5 mi
- 9 miLowder Mountain, Upper Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.5 mi
Trails nearby
- 1.6 miIndian Ridge3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miSardine Butte0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.6 miFrench Pete ↗9.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.2 miRebel Rock ↗6.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.2 miRebel Creek ↗9.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.7 miGrasshopper ↗12.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.3 miIndian Ridge South Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 1.5 miHidden Lake SIA Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 2.1 miIndian Ridge North Trailhead ↗Willamette 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 Willamette National Forest.
- inWillamette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,801,292 acres
- 5.9 miThree Sisters Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 283,818 acres
- 7.2 miDeschutes National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,870,116 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
- Belknap BridgeStructure · Rainbow · 11.3 mi
- Log Cabin Inn EnsembleBuilding · McKenzie Bridge · 12.6 mi
Natural features
Views from the lookout include the Three Sisters, which are close and prominent to the northeast, along with views of the Cascade Crest both north and south. The Sand Mountain and Carpenter Mountain Lookouts are visible with binoculars. Hidden Lake is visible below the northern edge of mountaintop. The open ridge is covered with beargrass and huckleberries. Several rocky outcroppings are covered by wildflowers and mossy vegetation, depending on the season. Willamette National Forest offers prime habitat for such species as Roosevelt elk, black bear, bald eagles, black tail deer and bobcats, among other wildlife.
Recreation
From the lookout's perch above the tree line and far away from city lights, guests can enjoy spectacular night skies and star gazing. An unmaintained trail on the ridge meanders through alpine trees and beargrass, allowing hikers to explore the mountaintop. The French Pete Trail Area in the Three Sisters Wilderness offers several miles of hiking. Cougar Reservoir and Hidden Lake are also in the vicinity, offering additional recreation options.
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 Indian Ridge Lookout?
Sites at Indian Ridge 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 Indian Ridge Lookout?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Indian Ridge Lookout have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Indian Ridge Lookout?
The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
What is there to do at Indian Ridge Lookout?
From the lookout's perch above the tree line and far away from city lights, guests can enjoy spectacular night skies and star gazing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Indian Ridge Lookout?
Mckenzie Bridge, Oregon. A short trail to Hidden Lake offers access to alpine swimming and sunbathing.
Source: Getting there
What if Indian Ridge Lookout is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are French Pete Campground (3.5 mi, partly first-come), Hard Rock Campground (3.5 mi), and Cougar Crossing Campground (4 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby