White
Point Lookout is operated by the Oregon Dept of Forestry.
It was originally built in 1951 with a 40’ live-in tower. In
1974 when the Burnt Peak lookout was dismantled the wooden tower
uprights were used to build a new 30’ tower with an ODF cab,
making this one of the new towers in Jackson
County!
White Point Lookout has been
staffed every summer for years, but according to the lookout
attendant this may be ending soon. She said they are talking about
replacing her with an infrared camera that can pick up smoke and
heat. I bet it won’t be as accurate as the lady who has been
there for um-teen years!
When you arrive, call out
and ask for an invitation to visit the tower. PLEASE DO NOT
DISTURB THE LOOKOUT BEFORE 10:00AM!! The attendants stay
up late looking for smokes, and do enjoy sleeping in. After your
visit, look for the geocache about 20’ from the tower. It is
a regular size container with trade items and a log
book.
This lookout shares the
ridge with Hall’s Point Lookout, but at the opposite end. The
two lookouts are only two miles apart, but see a totally different
view. White Point looks toward the Rogue Valley which can be seen
way in the distance. Oddly enough it is only one ridge away from
Lost Creek Reservoir but it’s completely obscured by the
ridge!
Getting to the lookout
– Take FS Rd 64 off Hwy 62 in Prospect. Continue on Rd 64
until you come to Rd 200 on the left. This road climbs up the
mountain to both lookout towers. You will come to a nice flat area
and the road will fork. Rd 200 continues to the right and Rd 290
goes to the left. Take this left road to White Point. At the next
fork in the road there will be a gate on the left. The lookout
tower is about 500’ around the bend. First you will see the
odd “White Point Drive-in Theater”, then the tower.
These roads can be accessed by most any high clearance
vehicle.
Elevation –
5075’.
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