Bear Basin Butte Lookout / Pierson Cabin
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Bear Basin Butte Lookout / Pierson Cabin
Are you seeking solitude, awe-inspiring views, a quiet haven away from crowds, or perhaps you’ve wondered what life would be like for a fire spotter in the Forest Service? While fire lookouts may be passing into history, they remain objects of interest for many people, both for their beautiful locations and the mystique surrounding existence in a high and remote site. Now you have an opportunity to feel for yourself what it’s like to live in a fire lookout. The Bear Basin Butte Lookout is situated high atop a narrow mountain ridge and offers a 360° view of the Siskiyou Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Six Rivers National Forest invites you to experience life at the top of Bear Basin Butte through rental of a historic fire lookout and a new 1930s style cabin. Bear Basin Lookout and Pierson Cabin Brochure, rev. 2-2015 - PDF Bear Basin Lookout and Pierson Cabin Brochure, rev. 2-2015 - Word
Before you go
Reservations
Reservations accepted
Fees
$75 per night. Rate is for 1 to 8 persons; there is a fee of $5 per night for each additional person over 8, paid directly to the facility (usually when picking up the key). The maximum occupancy is 12 persons.
Hours
The cabin and lookout are rented as a pair from July 1 to September 30.
Restrictions
Pets are not allowed in the cabin or lookout.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.