Quail
Prairie Lookout
- Oregon
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
The
view of the Kalmiopsis
Wilderness may be a sight to behold from the
Quail Prairie Lookout site at 3,033 feet above sea level, but it becomes
truly breathtaking after the 52-foot climb up to the primitive cabin
that awaits at the top of the tower. Visitors to this rustic spot gaze
with awe at the spectacular view, the sunrises and sunsets, and the
night sky crowded with stars.
MORE INFORMATION: History | Description | Area
Attractions & Activities | Amenities | Pets | Smoking | Directions |
Warning
Price & Capacity
$50 per night per group, with a maximum of four occupants. Fees are
used directly for the maintenance and preservation of the lookout.
Reservations
or
1-877-444-6777 |
Gold Beach Ranger District
Chetco Station
PO Box 4580, 539 Chetco Avenue
Brookings, OR 97415
541-412-6000
Other
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Recreation Rentals
Availability Due to safety concerns
and the height of the tower, children under the age of 12 years are
not allowed.
Quail Prairie Lookout
is available for rent June 15 through October 15, weather permitting.
-- There is a 10-day minimum advance window
for reservations. The maximum length stay is three consecutive nights.
--
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History
Built in 1963, this was one of the last fire lookouts to be built by the
Forest Service in southwestern Oregon. Even the early 1960s the Quail Prairie
vicinity’s Forest Service road system remained very limited, making
it important to have a "fixed" fire-detection facility for this
area. It was used as a lookout until the mid-1990s.
Description
The one-room cabin, with windows all around, rests on the top of a 41-foot
timber tower with eight by eight inch wooden legs, and is surrounded by a
catwalk. It is furnished with a single bed, a table and two chairs, a stool,
broom and fire extinguisher. It also features a wood stove (firewood is provided),
as well as a propane stove for cooking and a propane refrigerator. A vault
toilet is located near the tower. There is no water on site, so visitors
must bring enough for drinking, cooking and washing.
Area
Attractions & Activities
Visitors enjoy views of the Kalmiopsis
Wilderness and the Chetco
River drainage.
Brookings and the southern Oregon coast are close by. The nearby Upper
Chetco Trail provides good hiking; it accesses grassy meadows and viewpoints.
Amenities
- Vault Toilet
- Wood Stove
- Firewood
- Propane Cooking Stove
- Propane Refrigerator
Pets
Pets are welcome.
Smoking
No smoking.
Directions
Leaving Brookings, from US Highway 101, drive east on North Bank Chetco
River Road (County Road 784). This becomes Forest Service Road (FSR) 1376
in approximately 8 miles. Turn left after crossing the South Fork Bridge
(16 miles from Brookings). Turn right on FSR 1917 approximately 1 mile after
the bridge. Follow Quail Prairie signs staying on road 1917. The lookout
is 3 miles beyond Packer’s
Cabin. The total distance is 26 miles.
Plan on an hour and a half of travel time on Forest Service roads. The roads
are generally one-lane and gravel, with pullouts. Many people use these roads,
including logging trucks, forestry workers, and recreational vehicles. Drive
slowly, stay to the right side of the road at all times, and use pullouts.
Above all, be alert and drive defensively.
Warning
Due to the height of the tower, no children under 12 years old are permitted.
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