Mount Hood, the king of the forest
Photo © Corel

There's nothing so rewarding as waking to a beautiful morning under the awning of the ol' tent canvas—except waking to that same morning from the upgraded comfort, elevation, and perspective of an old forest-service fire lookout.

A string of now-defunct fire posts speckle the great forests of the Pacific Northwest, which were first built in the early 1900s to monitor the health of forestland in Washington and Oregon. These platforms varied in size and complexity, but essentially were an administrative version of the much-loved kids' treehouse. Luckily for the kid in all of us, the Forest Service has opened some of these platforms to the humble hiker, where he or she can catch a good night's sleep in the relative luxury of a sheltered aerie.

Choose from 16 lookouts in backwoods areas like Mount Hood or Olympic national forests. The Greenridge Lookout in Oregon's Deschutes National Forest, near Bend, stands 500 feet above the Metolius River Valley and affords sweeping views out toward 10,495-foot Mount Jefferson. Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest's Evergreen Mountain Lookout Cabin comes complete with a twin-size bed and all the equipment you need for a morning brew. Just add water, some joe, and either a love for solitude or someone special with whom to share the breaking day.

Prices range from $30 to $50 per night, and most lookouts are open from late spring through fall, though some are open long enough for an early winter ski-in escape. Always check with the ranger station for trail conditions, weather, and permit requirements. Call 503-872-2750 or visit www.naturenw.org for availability and reservations.

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