Located on the southern edge of the Deschutes National Forest, Walker Mountain Lookout - Elevation 7080 feet, was put into service in the summer of 1913. The access road to the top of Walker Mountain is open year round, weather permitting, and when not covered by snow is accessible to most vehicles.
According to the Deschutes National Forest website, the Walker Mountain Lookout was one of three lookouts added in 1913, along with Black Butte and Maiden Peak, and was one of the first in the Deschutes National Forest.
A native stone and wood cabin was built for the caretaker in 1917, making it possibly the oldest intact lookout related structure in Oregon. The 35 foot steel tower with a hip-roof L-4 14'x14' cab with catwalk was constructed in 1932. The lookout is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. The Walker Mountain Lookout Tower has been condemned, and is now only used in case of emergency.
The caretaker's cabin has been rustically restored and is worth checking out while on the mountain. However, please be respectful of anyone who may be using the cabin.
Be sure to also check out the cool markings on the two rock outcropping that are adjacent to the cache, I suspect some of these marks may be from lightning strikes.
The cache is a 30 caliber plastic ammo container hidden below the rock outcropping which is located southwest of the caretaker's cabin. I tried to hide the container in an area that is less conspicuous in hopes it won't be found by non-cachers and go missing this time.
Please be sure to re-hide the container as I left it so that it is not visible and won't be found by someone who is not intentionally looking for it.
As always, please include your photos of the area. I couldn't get enough of the amazing views from up here!
Congratulations to tomfuller & Quill for their second First to Find on the Walker Mountain Look Out cache!