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.

Larger photos of Quail Prairie Lookout and Vicinity

MORE INFORMATION: History | Description | Area Attractions & Activities | Amenities | Pets | Smoking | Directions | Warning

Price & Capacity

CLOSED FOR REPAIRS

$50 per night per group, with a maximum of four occupants. Fees are used directly for the maintenance and preservation of the lookout.

Reservations

www.RECREATION.gov

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

CLOSED FOR REPAIRS

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. --

CLOSED FOR REPAIRS

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.