Little Cowhorn Mountain Lookout

Facility · Oregon ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Willamette National Forest (NF) · Open Access

4,240 ft
Elevation

Elevation: 4243 ft.
Built: 1960, Flat-roof w/cab
Trail: 1 mile, moderate
Staffing: not currently staffed by Middle Fork R.D.


Little Cowhorn is a must-visit lookout point in the Forest. It has a long history of maintenance by volunteers and is in very good condition. The mountaintop is a very open, rocky area that can be safely explored and traversed. The views of the Cascade Crest are somewhat distant, but you will have excellent vistas of the western edge of the Forest, and some major watersheds, such as Fall Creek. The trail rises through several types of vegetation and terrain, including deep timber, rocky outcroppings with dramatic towering faces, exposed flowering rocky slopes, and the grassy mountaintop area. An excellent early season warm-up hike or close-in late-season outing. Exercise caution on the final approach, which traverses a rock face, with handrail.

Getting there

44.03862, -122.50353 · 44°2'19.0"N 122°30'12.7"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 84°F in Aug, down to 47°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F495357616874848478655447
Low °F353637404549525148433935
Precip in9.07.07.56.74.32.80.50.62.15.79.710.7

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 10.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Common questions about Little Cowhorn Mountain Lookout

Can you reserve a site at Little Cowhorn Mountain Lookout?
No. Little Cowhorn Mountain Lookout is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Little Cowhorn Mountain Lookout

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.