Onion
Mountain Lookout
- Oregon
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
On
a clear day, Onion Mountain offers a spectacular view of mountainous
southwest Oregon. But at night, with the twinkling lights of Grants
Pass far in the distance, the rustic cabin becomes an astronomer’s
heaven as the expansive night’s sky is littered with constellations
and planets, the moon and the Milky Way. Although the glow from the
city of Grants Pass does obscure the northeastern night sky to some
degree, little or no light pollution sullies the inky skies in other
directions. No trees obscure the view. Sit back and gaze.
MORE INFORMATION: History | Description | Area
Attractions & Activities | Amenities | Pets | Smoking | Directions |
Warning
Price & Capacity
$40 per night per group, with a maximum of four occupants. The
maximum length stay is five consecutive nights. Fees are used directly
for the maintenance and preservation of the lookout.
The site has adequate room for four or five tents.
Reservations
1-877-444-6777 |
Wild Rivers Ranger District
200 NE Greenfield Road
Grants
Pass, OR 97526
541-471-6500
Other
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Recreation Rentals
Availability
Onion Mountain Lookout is available for rent from May 27 through Oct
15.
-- To make arrangements to pick up and sign
the rental permit required, please call Forest Service representatives
at 541-471-6724. The maximum length stay is five consecutive nights.
--
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History
The original Onion Mountain Lookout was a raised platform, built in 1916,
atop a cribbed-log "tower." A 2-story cupola-style lookout (without
a tower) was subsequently been built on this site in 1924; the current structure
went up in 1952.
Onion Mountain is named for the tiny wild onions that grow among the rocks
at the summit (such tidbits probably flavored many a lookout’s stew).
Onion Mountain served as a fire lookout from World War I until the 1970s;
during World War II it also did duty as an Aircraft Warning Service observation
station, as did many other fire lookouts along the Pacific Coast.
Crank telephone was the only communication link until after World War II.
Phone line (#9 galvanized wire) was strung for countless miles between USFS
lookouts, guard stations, and ranger stations all over the West. After the
War, in the 1950s, radio transmission came to Onion Mountain and other lookouts.
A lookout’s main job was to watch for smoke or other signs of fire
(especially after a lightning storm or during the hottest part of summer),"take
a fix" on the smoke’s location (using an Osborne
Firefinder),
and then report its location to the district ranger and the forest guard.
The guard would hike or ride a horse to the fight the fire -- followed,
if need be, by a larger crew. (Sometimes the lookout would be dispatched
to fight a nearby fire.) The lookout also "took the weather" each
day, reporting the temp, humidity, wind direction and speed, etc. to the
ranger station.
Description
Onion Mountain lookout is at 4,438 feet above sea level and is set atop
a 12-foot tower. A visit to the cabin, a 14’ by 14’ block of
wood and windows, feels like camping in a house of glass. It is furnished
with a bed and a table and chairs, and features a propane cooking stove,
refrigerator, and lanterns. A vault toilet is located near the tower. There
is no water on site, so visitors must bring sufficient supplies for drinking,
cooking and washing. There is no propane heater.
Area
Attractions & Activities
In addition to the incredible views and scenic photography opportunities,
the area is dotted with wildflowers, such as white, puffy plumes of Bear
Grass, bright yellow Snow Mountain Buckwheat and pink and purple Berry’s
penstemon. The lookout is located near the Taylor
Creek/Onion
Way mountain loop,
a trail for mountain biking enthusiasts. The Oregon
Caves National Monument is within a hour’s drive.
Amenities
- Vault Toilet
- Propane Stove
- Cooking Stove
- Refrigerator
- Lanterns
- No
Heater
The site has adequate room for four or five tents.
Pets
Pets are welcome.
Smoking
No smoking.
Directions
From Grants Pass travel Highway 199 south to Riverbanks Road (milepost 7
-just past the Applegate River) and turn right. Proceed on Riverbanks Road,
5.5 miles to Shan Creek Road and turn left. Travel 8 miles on this gravel
road to Forest Service Road (FSR) 2509 and turn right. Proceed 0.75 mile
to the Onion Mountain gate. An alternate route: At milepost 15 of Highway
199, take FSR 25, 12 miles to FSR 2509 (Onion Mountain Road) and turn right.
Proceed approximately 2.5 miles to the Onion Mountain gate.
Onion Mountain Lookout is accessible by car, but the last 8.75 miles are
on graveled Forest Service roads.
Warning
Because of the tower, this site is not recommended for families with toddlers
or young children.
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