Type: 40′ tower
Status: Abandoned
Elevation: 6,071 feet
Visited: August 18, 2012
NOTE: While the lookout and summit are state land, it is surrounded by private land owned by Manulife. While the company formerly allowed the public free access to their lands, they ceased allowing this in 2026 due to “a growing number of unauthorized activities.” This includes “unauthorized trails, drug and alcohol use, unapproved events, illegal collection of forest products, dumping, vandalism, theft, unpermitted fires, damage to roads and wetlands, etc.” Visitors must now purchase a permit to access Manulife lands. (Read more here)
After visiting Point Prominence we drove over to Mt. Harris. The paper map and the GPS showed different and confusing networks of roads, but we finally figured out the correct route and found ourselves on another dreadful road. It was very rough, very rocky, and very rutted. Finally we found a wide spot in the road to turn around and get the car pointed downhill. We parked and hiked the rest of the way up, which turned out to be about 1.8 miles.
After a hot hike up the road we finally reached the top, which is chock full of radio towers and antennas.
In fact the lookout itself serves as a platform for some of that equipment.
The views were pretty obscured by trees but we could see down into the valley and the snaking Grand Ronde River.
We could also see south, where the valley and the mountains abruptly meet.
More information
Forest Lookouts
Rex’s Forest Fire Lookout Page
National Historic Lookout Register
Peakbagger
Panorama Photos
Geocache
History
A tower with a cupola cabin was built on Mt. Harris in 1930. In 1939 it was replaced with a 30′ tower with a 14×14′ cab.
In 1956 A new radio repeater was installed. A 10×20 building was constructed for Eastern Oregon Television Company to house their relay equipment. A power line was installed up to the summit.
In 1957 a 40′ tower was constructed about 120 feet northeast of the old tower.