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| | | Lookout Mountain - Crook COHP, OR | | | |
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Lookout Mountain - Crook COHP, OR
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| Hiking | 3.94 Miles |
1,125 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.94 Miles | 2 Hrs 26 Mns | | 2.04 mph |
| 1,125 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This was a hike to the summit of Lookout Mountain (elevation of 6,926 feet and prominence of 2,426 feet), the highpoint of Crook County. Lookout Mountain is in the Ochoco National Forest, and it is the highpoint of the forest. Crook County is in central Oregon; Prineville is the county seat.
I started and ended the hike at the Mother Lode Mine Trailhead. I took a good paved road to within a mile of the trailhead, and then went on a gravel/dirt road the rest of the way. Most any vehicle could make the dirt road drive. Gmaps can get to the Mother Lode Mine TH.
From the TH there are 2 different trails to take: Lookout Mountain Trail #804 or Mother Lode Mine Trail #808A. I took the Mother Lode Mine Trail since it is about a mile shorter.
The Mother Lode Mine Trail goes through a forest on some very nice tread. After about 1.25 miles the Mother Lode Mine Trail ends at the aforementioned Lookout Mountain Trail, which leads to the summit of Lookout Mountain. Along the way there is a side trail that goes to a snow shelter, which is a 3 sided wooden building with a makeshift stove in it that is made of a 50 gallon drum. I guess that one could sleep in the shelter, and I could see that people had camped outside the shelter
The summit was not too far past the snow shelter. The summit area of Lookout Mountain is a broad mesa with sagebrush being about the only vegetation. There are nice 360 degree views; I particularly enjoyed the views of snow-capped mountains to the west. There used to be a fire tower at the summit, but only some footings remain. I saw a reference mark, but no other flivers.
In looking at a topo map, there are 3 other contours to the north that are between 6,900-6,940 feet, so they could potentially be higher than the recognized high point. I went over to the first contour and according to my GPS it might actually be the highpoint, but it is too close to call. The other 2 contours looked lower, and I had read some credible trip reports that indicated that these 2 contours were in fact lower; hence, I did not visit them.
On the way back I started to take the Lookout Mountain Trail all the way back to the TH and make a loop, but I was running a bit short on time so I decided to return the way that I came.
Synopsis
This was an enjoyable hike -- the trails were great and the views at the summit were outstanding.
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