Type: Steel tower
Status: Staffed
Elevation: 8,346′
Visited: August 13, 2023
It’s a stiff 3.5 mile hike with 2,300′ of elevation gain to reach Mt. Ireland. I saw absolutely no one the entire hike. (Read more about the hike on my adventure blog.)
The lookout is staffed in summer, but no one was around. I arrived on his day off:
There is a helipad up here:
And some old exercise equipment?
The views up here are incredible. Baldy Lake is visible below to the northeast. It’s in the North Fork John Day Wilderness and although the trail to Mt. Ireland is not in the wilderness the lookout itself sits just inside the boundary. There is a trail Baldy Lake that comes in from the north, but no trail between the lookout and the lake:
View to the southwest. Vinegar Hill is left of center, with Dixie Butte to the left of that:
Looking southwest to Vinegar Hill
View to the northwest:
View to the southeast. Rock Creek Butte at center:
Looking northeast at Red Mountain:
I saw a salt lick and mountain goat fur, but no goats:
The toilet:
I took a break on the summit, then headed back down. I got a nice view of Mount Ruth (left of center) and Twin Mountain (on the right):
More information
Forest Lookouts
Rex’s Forest Fire Lookout Page
National Historic Lookout Register
Peakbagger
Panorama Photos
Geocache
Directions
From Sumpter follow the Elkhorn Scenic Byway west for 11.7 miles, then turn right onto gravel Road 7370. Drive 0.5 miles then keep left at a junction to stay on 7370. After another 0.2 miles stay right on 7370. After another 2.2 miles turn right on Road 100 for 0.2 miles. The trailhead is on the left where a berm blocks an old road. From the trailhead it is a 3.5 mile hike to the lookout. A detailed hike description is available on the Oregon Hikers Field Guide.
History
A cabin with a rooftop observation platform was built on Mt. Ireland in 1916:
1916
This mountain actually had a different name when the lookout was built: Bald Mountain. The following year in 1917 it was renamed to Mt. Ireland to commemorate Henry Ireland, former supervisor of the Whitman National Forest.
Later a cupola was added to the top of that cabin:
1955
In 1957 the cupola cabin was replaced with the all-steel tower that stands there today:
