CLEARWATER LOOKOUT CABIN

About CLEARWATER LOOKOUT CABIN

Overview Clearwater Lookout Cabin is a single story, wood frame structure constructed in 1935. It is tucked at the base of the Clearwater Lookout tower, a 94-foot steel tower constructed by the Civil Conservation Corps in 1933. Through the years, the tower has been used as a landmark by the public and employees of the Forest Service. The tower is no longer manned during fire season, but it is used on occasion during extreme fire conditions. The tower is closed to public access, but the rental cabin is open year-round. The cabin is located about 25 miles south of Pomeroy, Washington in the Umatilla National Forest. Access by car is from June 1 to October 31 weather permitting. In winter, access is limited to cross country skis, snowshoes or snowmobile.Recreation Horseback riding and hiking trails can be accessed from the cabin. During spring and summer, guests can enjoy a short and scenic drive along the Tucannon River to Sunset Point. Mushroom and berry picking may also entertain guests. At night, guests enjoy gazing up at the star-filled sky. Winter brings avid snowmobilers and skiers to explore its groomed trails. Facilities The cabin is divided into a kitchen and a bedroom, and is furnished with four extra-long single beds. It is kept warm in the winter by a propane heater, and features propane lights, a cook stove and a refrigerator, as well as some cookware, dishes and utensils. However it is suggested that visitors bring their own dishes, pots, pans and utensils. There is a firepit and picnic table outside. An outhouse is located nearby. The cabin was updated inside and out during the summer of 2023. There is no water on-site, so visitors must bring plenty for drinking, cooking and washing. Other things to bring include bedding or sleeping bags, flashlights, dish soap and other basic camping gear. General cleaning is expected before departure. Mop, bucket, broom, and cleaning supplies provided (water is not provided). Cleaning service is not always available b

How to Get There

From Pomeroy, take 15th Street south which turns into Peola Rd and follow for 8 miles. The road then turns into Mountain Road, follow for 7.5 miles on pavement to the forest boundary. Continue on Forest Service Road 40 for about 9 miles to Clearwater Junction. The cabin is located to the right at the base of Clearwater Lookout Tower. Guests may park right beside the cabin, but not on the concrete helipad. Automobile access to the site is from June 1 to November 1. In winter, visitors must park at the Rose Springs Sno-Park, about 1.5 miles inside the forest boundary. From this point, guests can either snowmobile or cross country ski about 6.5 miles on a beginner to intermediate-level trail. Know the weather forecast before leaving as winter weather can change quickly. A Washington State Sno-Park permit is required to park at the Sno-Park. Permits can be purchased from any Washington State Park office.

What to Pack for Your Stay

Tuned to the live forecast for this park.

Plan Your Visit to CLEARWATER LOOKOUT CABIN

Heading to CLEARWATER LOOKOUT CABIN? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)