Oregon's Most Sublime Overnight Stay Is A Secret National Forest Lookout With Panoramic Mountain Views

There's a lot to love about visiting Oregon from north to south, across a vast landscape of forests, coastline, mountains, and green valleys. In Southern Oregon, the Umpqua National Forest stretches close to one million acres along the Cascade Mountain Range, across three counties. The forest is home to Oregon's prominent twin pinnacles, offering rock climbing and river views, and the Umpqua Hot Springs, a tranquil Oregon oasis and one of the most breathtaking natural hot springs in the Pacific Northwest. Hidden in its southwest corner stands Acker Rock Lookout, Oregon's most majestic overnight stay, which comes with panoramic mountain views.

Acker Rock Lookout sits 4,000 feet high along a cliff that overlooks the South Umpqua River Valley. The lookout was built in 1964 for use in fire detection for the Tiller Ranger District, and had to be positioned in its location by helicopter. It still serves as one of only two lookouts (the other being Pickett Butte) that remain in place for the district during the summer months. Spectacular views are available from every angle along the Rogue-Umpqua Divide, including mountain ranges on the Willamette, Rogue, and Umpqua Rivers, provided the clouds cooperate for a clear view. To get here, you'll need to climb a moderately steep 0.4-mile trail and trudge up a set of stairs, along with whatever you can carry yourself to spend a night or more in the remote wilderness. To access the Acker Rock Trailhead from its closest town of Canyonville, Oregon, you'll want to follow detailed directions along forest service roads from the National Forest website, and a high clearance vehicle is suggested. The lookout is usually available for booking and public access from August 1st to November 15th, as winter conditions from wind and snow can be too harsh.

When you're ready to book the Acker Lookout's 12 x 12 cabin for a remote adventure, you'll want to know what you're getting and what you need to bring. The Tiller Ranger District is the agency that handles the reservations for Acker Lookout, for a cost starting at $40 per night. They can be reached via phone at 541-825-3100, with office hours on Thursdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Inside, you'll find a twin bed, a small table, limited counter space, two chairs, a mini-refrigerator, an oven/stove, and propane lights. The only restroom available is a composting toilet, and no other water is available, so you'll need to bring whatever you need with you. Guests will need to bring in their own food, bedding, cooking gear, additional lighting, and even toilet paper with them. Oregon's weather turns cool or chilly at night, so be prepared with extra bedding and blankets to keep you warm while in the lookout's quarters. You can venture out onto a narrow catwalk that extends around the perimeter of the building, and you'll likely see rock climbers, who frequent the area. The distance of the rappel from Acker Rock Lookout to Eagle's Dare is 550 feet, making it the longest in Oregon, and a challenge many climbers opt to attempt. While you're venturing through this region of Oregon, head along the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, known as Oregon's 'Highway Of Waterfalls', a breathtakingly scenic road trip through a magical river valley and to Elkton, the 'Jewel Of The Umpqua', with peaceful river fishing and delicious wine.