King Mountain

Type: 10′ steel tower
Status: Unmanned
Elevation: 6,678′
Visited: July 3, 2021

After visiting Calamity Butte we drove over to King Mountain. From Road 2820 we turned onto Road 503. This spur wasn’t bad at first, but then there were several deep trenches and ditches to negotiate. After doing several of those I decided to park and walk the final 0.7 miles of road to the top. (Of course these photos don’t do justice to the deep ruts in the road.)

King Mountain

King Mountain

The lookout isn’t staffed anymore and the site is only used for communications equipment now. The Malheur National Forest has proposed taking down this lookout.

King Mountain Lookout

King Mountain

King Mountain Lookout

King Mountain Lookout

King Mountain Lookout

Hazy views here just like at Calamity earlier:

King Mountain

Directions

From Road 2820 turn north onto Road 503 and follow it for approximately 2.5 miles to the summit. The last few miles are rough and rutted.

More information
Forest Lookouts
Rex’s Forest Fire Lookout Page
National Historic Lookout Register
Peakbagger
Panorama Photos
Geocache

History

In 1923 a cupola cabin was built on King Mountain, pictured here in 1930:


USFS

That lookout was replaced in 1957 by a 10′ steel tower, which is the lookout that stands there today. Here it is in 1959:


USFS