Type: 10′ CL-160 metal flattop cab
Status: Rental
Elevation: 3,419′
Visited: July 2-5, 2026
We spent the 4th of July weekend at Lake of the Woods near Gold Beach. Although we’ve been to this area several times we had not visited this lookout or stayed in it yet.
Road 141 is a one-mile spur road that heads up to the summit. It is gated, but renters get the code to open the gate:
The road is in decent shape, although there were a few rocky parts where I was glad to have high clearance. The brush is also encroaching in several spots, and it rubbed against the car.
This is definitely the least attractive of Oregon’s 18 lookout rentals:
The lookout is equipped with a rickety and saggy old bed, countertop stove, a table with a bench, and gas lights:
This was a troubling sign:
A path leads to a toilet nearby:
Loo with a view!
There is a picnic table nearby:
Bird in a tree:
The views are limited since the trees have grown up. Looking north and northeast:
Looking east:
Looking southeast:
Looking south:
Looking west:
Looking northwest:
We got to see some nice stars during our visit:
From the car on Friday we saw a black bear cross the road a few miles from the lookout. And on Saturday we found a pile of fresh bear scat on the path to the toilet:
We saw a few good sunsets during out visit:
During our stay we checked out the actual Lake of the Woods. We parked at the big intersection at the gate and hiked down the abandoned Road 090. It was smooth sailing at first:
Then it wasn’t:
The “lake” is little more than a buggy pond that was rapidly drying up. I have no idea why someone thought this was worthy of getting a name:
A few things to note if you rent Lake of the Woods:
- Our Verizon signal here was virtually non-existent. We got a few texts out, but couldn’t load weather or anything using data.
- Four of the windows have screens so you can let in a breeze without letting in bugs.
- At the time of our visit there were no pots or pans present. There were disposable plastic spoons and paper plates.
- According to a sign on the lookout there was no lightening protection.
- The lookout has a gas stovetop but no oven.
- There is no woodstove or heat source.
- Views to south and north are mostly blocked by trees.
- Past logbooks had been removed.
- The catwalk doesn’t lock so if someone hikes up you could have visitors. The door, does lock.
- The cabin has no chairs with backs, just benches. We were glad we brought our camp chairs.
- There was only half a roll of toilet paper and we were glad we brought some with us.
- Despite the array of bug sprays present, we had no bug issues.
- Don’t bring a car whose paint you care about. Brush is crowding the road and it’s impossible to avoid making contact.
More information
Forest Lookouts
Rex’s Forest Fire Lookout Page
National Historic Lookout Register
Peakbagger
Panorama Photos
Geocache
History
The first lookout here was a crow’s nest in the 1920s.
1927
An L-4 cabin was built in 1933.
1944
In 1973 the Forest Service constructed a short metal tower east of the former lookout. Then they airlifted the 7.5 ton lookout from Barklow Mountain and flew it south 12 miles to Lake Of the Woods Mountain.
1973
The lookout was last staffed in the late 1990s and was then added to the recreation program.