Fivemile Butte Lookout Loop via Eightmile Loop Trail #496(edit)

Overview

This is a moderate loop trail to Fivemile Butte Lookout in Mount Hood National Forest.

This trail goes by Fivemile Butte.

Getting Started

Visited here Monday 11/4/19. Parked at the picnic area at Eight Mile Campground. You need a northwest Forrest pass, or an America the Beautiful pass, or pre-purchase a day pass before you park here as there is no fee pay box here. Bathroom was pretty clean, but no tp. Lots of picnic areas with BBQ pits.

I took Brooks and a FR in (in good condition) and FR and dufur valley road (in good/ok condition. Paved. This road is closed December 15th to March 15th.).

Hiked the more difficult way first (which is moderate/easy, some up hill) side first. With a detour to check out Five Mile Butte Lookout. (The top of the lookout is gated and locked so unless you are renting it out there is no access up top. There is a pulley system, but it's broken. A pretty terrible smelling open pit toilet as well.) The lookout was gorgeous at sunrise and bonus there was no one staying there when we went so we got to walk up and check out as much of the lookout as we could.

This area is very beautiful. When you get to the road you have to road walk before the creek side trail begins. Eight Mile Creek was mostly frozen over but very beautiful. The Larches are loosing their needles. About a mile in on the creek side is where the controlled burns are happening on both sides of the trail.

There are blow downs on this trail.

Good place to bring young children.

7.36 miles with 1091 ft elevation gain.