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Clearwater Lookout Cabin is a single story, wood frame structure constructed in 1935. It is tucked at the base of the Clearwater Lookout tower, a 94-foot steel tower constructed by the Civil Conservation Corps in 1933. Through the years, the tower has been used as a landmark by the public and employees of the Forest Service. The tower is no longer manned during fire season, but it is used on occasion during extreme fire conditions. The tower is closed to public access, but the rental cabin is open year-round. The cabin is located about 25 miles south of Pomeroy, Washington in the Umatilla National Forest. Access by car is from June 1 to October 31 weather permitting. In winter, access is limited to cross country skis, snowshoes or snowmobile.
Horseback riding and hiking trails can be accessed from the cabin. During spring and summer, guests can enjoy a short and scenic drive along the Tucannon River to Sunset Point. Mushroom and berry picking may also entertain guests. At night, guests enjoy gazing up at the star-filled sky.
Winter brings avid snowmobilers and skiers to explore its groomed trails.
The cabin is divided into a kitchen and a bedroom, and is furnished with four extra-long single beds. It is kept warm in the winter by a propane heater, and features propane lights, a cook stove and a refrigerator, as well as some cookware, dishes and utensils. However it is suggested that visitors bring their own dishes, pots, pans and utensils. There is a firepit and picnic table outside. An outhouse is located nearby.
There is no water on-site, so visitors must bring plenty for drinking, cooking and washing. Other things to bring include bedding or sleeping bags, flashlights, dish soap and other basic camping gear. Cabin should be cleaned before departure. Mop, bucket and cleaning supplies provided.
Perched at 5,600 feet elevation, Clearwater Lookout Cabin offers panoramic views of the expansive Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, from sunrise to sunset.
The rugged landscape of the wilderness stretches across the northern Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. The mountain slopes are carpeted with bunchgrass, lodgepole pine and subalpine fir.
An array of wildlife, including Rocky Mountain Elk, bighorn sheep, white-tailed and mule deer, black bears, cougars and coyotes may be spotted.
The nearest general stores and gas stations are in Pomeroy, a 40-minute drive from the cabin.
For Reservation Changes & Cancellation Fees, please see Rules & Reservation Policies.
From Pomeroy, take 15th Street south which turns into Peola Rd and follow for 8 miles. The road then turns into Mountain Road, follow for 7.5 miles on pavement to the forest boundary. Continue on Forest Service Road 40 for about 9 miles to Clearwater Junction. The cabin is located to the right at the base of Clearwater Lookout Tower. Guests may park right beside the cabin, but not on the concrete helipad.
Automobile access to the site is from June 1 to November 1. In winter, visitors must park at the Rose Springs Sno-Park, about 1.5 miles inside the forest boundary. From this point, guests can either snowmobile or cross country ski about 6.5 miles on a beginner to intermediate-level trail. Know the weather forecast before leaving as winter weather can change quickly.
A Washington State Sno-Park permit is required to park at the Sno-Park. Permits can be purchased from any Washington State Park office.
This is a great little cabin! It's small and rustic, but that's just what we like. It's relatively quiet minus the occasional car on the main road. Fantastic views! I only wish that you could still go up in the tower. I think we have now stayed in all five cabins in the pomeroy ranger district.
We stopped here on our travels to try and visit all 93 fire lookouts in Washington. The area was very clean minus some broken glass shards (that we picked up). The restroom was very clean and seemed well tended too. The view was great even though we could not climb the stairs to the top.
We stayed at the Clearwater Lookout for 2 nights. Cozy cabin with beautiful views. Thankful for a working stove and oven (propane). The furnace in the bedroom heated quickly and the heat rose to the top bunks fast! Bring headlamps for night time walks to the outhouse
