Green Ridge Lookout
Green Ridge Lookout is perched on a ridge more than 2,000 feet above the Metolius River. It offers guests a unique lodging experience in Deschutes National Forest. The lookout, a 20-foot tall fire lookout with unmatched views of Mt. Jefferson and the Metolius River basin, was built in the 1960s. Green Ridge Lookout is available for rent early May - June and mid September - mid November. During the summer months, the lookout is staffed with Forest Service volunteers who help with forest fire detection.
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 | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | 4 / 3 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
The R6 style cab sits on a two-story tower hugging the side of Green Ridge. From the parking area, there is a short boardwalk to the lower 20x20-ft. wooden deck. A one story flight of steps leads to the catwalk of the upper deck surrounding the cabin. The one-room cabin is furnished with a futon, a table and two chairs. It is also equipped with a propane refrigerator, an overhead light, a propane wall heater, a four-burner propane stove and oven. Guests must bring several of their own amenities, including food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, towels, cookware, dish soap, matches, toilet paper and garbage bags. There is no water available at the site. Guests must bring water for drinking, cooking and washing. Although lighting is available, bringing an additional light source is recommended.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Entry to the lookout is by combination lock. Please call the Sisters Ranger District at (541) 549-7700 one week in advance to get the gate combination. From Sisters, travel 5.5 miles west on U.S. Highway 20 to Forest Road 11 at Indian Ford Campground.
| Nearest town | Sisters, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44.5339° N, 121.6086° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireBench
14 mi from the campground · 67,071 acres · 90% contained
- PrescribedSlow Dxp/Lemiti Rx - West
27 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSisi Lookout Admin Piles Rx - West
28 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSpike Timber Sale Rx - West
31 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 17.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Redpoint ↗ | 24.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Big Country RV ↗ | 28.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 6.7 miCabot Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.5 miGreen Ridge ↗11.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miEast Metolius River Trail ↗9.5 mi trail · hiking
- 2.8 miWest Metolius River Trail ↗8.4 mi trail · hiking
- 4.8 miJefferson Lake ↗9.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
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
Mount Jefferson Wilderness begins about 4.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4.4 miMount Jefferson Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 109,098 acres
- 10.7 miWillamette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,801,292 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
- Camp Sherman Community HallBuilding · Camp Sherman · 6.2 mi
- Santiam Pass Ski LodgeBuilding · Sisters · 14.8 mi
Natural features
Guests to Green Ridge Lookout are treated to views of snow-capped mountain peaks and dense forests of Douglas-fir, cedar and Ponderosa pine that stretch out to the horizon. Mount Jefferson, the most prominent peak in view, is a stratovolcano that reaches an elevation of 10,497 feet, the second highest mountain in Oregon. The scenic Metolius River flows through the basin beneath the tower lookout. The headwaters of the river are at Metolius Springs at the base of nearby Black Butte, a 6,436 ft. cinder cone. The clear, cold river flows north from the springs through diverse coniferous forest and a landscape of volcanic activity.
Recreation
Fishing and hiking top the list of recreational activities in the area. For anglers, the Metolius River offers a stunning setting for fly-fishing. Its clear, cold waters support rainbow trout, whitefish, bull trout and kokanee salmon. For day hikers and backpackers, the area offers a wide variety of scenic terrain, ranging from riverside trails to routes through subalpine forests. Several pleasant day hikes are found along the Metolius River and to the top of Black Butte. Lake Billy Chinook, approximately ten miles away, offers boating and fishing opportunities.
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 Green Ridge Lookout?
Sites at Green 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 Green Ridge Lookout?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Green Ridge Lookout have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Green Ridge Lookout?
The longest site here provides 20 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
Is there cell service at Green Ridge Lookout?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Green Ridge Lookout?
Fishing and hiking top the list of recreational activities in the area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Green Ridge Lookout?
Sisters, Oregon.
Source: Getting there
What if Green Ridge Lookout is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Allen Springs Campground (1 mi), Pioneer Ford Campground (1.3 mi), and Lower Bridge Campground (1.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby