Type: 30′ tower with R-6 cabin
Status: Staffed in summer
Elevation: 7,033 feet
Visited: June 1, 2025
Green Peter is a 3,793′ peak northeast of Sweet Home. A road goes to the summit–which is within a 78-acre parcel of state land–but because it’s almost entirely surrounded by Georgia Pacific land, the public can’t drive up there. So I hiked 3.8 miles of logging roads to reach the summit. (Read about the hike here.)
If you go left (not recommended) you can hike up this steep eroded road:
Go around the white building to where an ancient propane tank sits and the lookout comes into view:
And up these rickety metal stairs:
Instead when you reach the summit, the better way is to go to the right of the brick building:
Follow this boot path up along the ridge:
The lookout is perched on the rocky summit and has communications equipment mounted on it:
More communications equipment:
The views are pretty great. Looking east with Mt. Jefferson on the left, the Three Sisters on the right, and Green Peter Reservoir down below:
Close-up of Mt. Jefferson:
And the Three Sisters:
Green Peter Reservoir:
The view to the south was pretty cloudy, but the big comms tower is in the way as well. That is Foster Reservoir at right, where the first picture at the top of this post was taken from:
Foster Reservoir:
View to the west with MANY clearcuts:
Looking north. Snow peak in the distance; Bald Peter at right:
There were some nice wildflowers blooming on the summit:
More information
Forest Lookouts
Rex’s Forest Fire Lookout Page
National Historic Lookout Register
Peakbagger
Panorama Photos
Geocache
History
Green Peter became a lookout point sometime around 1912. There was an alidade and likely a cabin for living quarters. In 1920 a D-6 cupola was built.
Construction in 1920
1957
In 1970 that lookout was removed and a 14×14 L-4 cabin was built using repurposed material from the Jordan Lookout near Scio, and Swamp Mountain Lookout southeast of Sweet Home.
1971
The roof was replaced in 2000, and the lookout was overhauled in 2004. It was torn down to the studs and dry rot was removed. Windows, siding, shutters, trim, catwalk, trim, guard rails, and the door were replaced.
According to Oregon Geographic Names, “peter” was sometimes applied to high points that were rocky at the top and bare of timber. It may be derived directly from the Latin word petrus, meaning rock, or more likely from St. Peter, the rock on which the church was founded.