Type: R-6 ground cabin
Status: Not staffed
Elevation: 6,357′
Visited: September 1, 2024
The Waldo Mountain Lookout survived the 2022 Cedar Creek Fire, but access has been difficult. The wilderness and its trails are open, but the roads the west are still closed, so the Salmon Lakes – Waldo Mountain Trailhead cannot be reached. On Labor Day Weekend my sister, brother-in-law, and myself approached from the Waldo Lake side (read more about our hike through the burn here) to reach the lookout.
From our campsite on the lakeshore it took us four hours and 40 minutes, 5.8 miles, and 1,360′ elevation gain to reach the summit on this hot day:
This lookout was built in 1957, replacing an earlier cabin that was built in 1926. It was last staffed in 2001. Crews wrapped it in 2022 to protect it from the fire. The place could definitely use some TLC. The catwalk on the east side has collapsed:
Rusty old barrel:
The Cedar Creek Fire began on August 1, 2022 and was started by lightning. As the fire got closer the lookout was wrapped to protect it. Helicopter pilot Jon McNally posted this series of photos:
<
View this post on Instagram
Dozens of pieces of the protective wrapping were scattered all over the summit:
The fire burned right up to the south side of the summit:
Due to smoke/haze the views weren’t as far-reaching as they are on a crystal clear day, when you can see all the way to Mt. Hood. This is the view to the north. I believe the two bumps at right are Middle and South Sister:
View to the west:
View to the south (it’s hard to make out Diamond Peak due to the light and the clouds, but it’s there):
Looking east to Waldo Lake, The Twins, and Maiden Peak:
Looking northeast with Lower Edeeeleo and Upper Edeeeleo lakes below:
Because of my slow pace and the long hike we had to get back, we didn’t have much time to spend on the summit. After a whirlwind 30 minutes up there we headed back down:
Bruce Amsbury was the last person to staff this lookout in 2001. He posted on Facebook that he was the first person to staff it in about a decade. You can see his photo on the lookout’s Wikipedia page. He also uploaded a video / slide show to YouTube. Sadly, Bruce passed away in 2023.
More information
Forest Lookouts
Rex’s Forest Fire Lookout Page
National Historic Lookout Register
Peakbagger
Panorama Photos
Geocache
History
Waldo Mountain became a lookout point in the 1920s. At first someone was stationed up there (probably living out of a tent) with just a heliograph for communication. Then a crude cabin was constructed in 1926:
Lillian Williams
In 1929 a telephone line was erected and a D-6 cupola was built on the summit, pictured here in 1939:
And 1942:
In 1957 that lookout was replaced with the R-6 ground cabin that stands today. It is no longer staffed.