Gumboot Mountain Lookout Site

In 1919, the Oregonian reported that small bundles were strapped on horses, the 7000 pounds of parts for the lookout house destined for Gum Boot lookout on the Yacolt burn, was journeying toward its destination. The new structure was the first that has been made to order under the revised plan for lighter weight buildings. It was put together in a Portland mill and knocked down for packing. In the load were included doors, cupola and windows for four sides of the cabin."

In 1920, by October the new lookout had been completed under a cooperative arrangement between the forest service, the state of Washington and the Washington Forest Fire association, according to Supervisor F.H. Brundage of the Columbia National Forest. The lookout was built by John Huffman and John Meyers of the forest service. Three and a half miles of trail was made to the summit and the material for the cabin, were packed up from the end of the logging railroad of the Clarke County Timber company. This was the third lookout built on the Columbia this year, the other two being on Lookout Mountain and Little Huckleberry.

In August of 1927, the Statesman Journal reported the following: "Whipped into fresh fury by a strong east wind, forest fires in the Columbia national forest in Washington. All crews had to be removed from the Siouxon fire district at once before the advance of the flames. Replacement for the ranks of fire fighters were sent today from Portland. It was believed that the Siouxon, Gumboot and Lookout mountain lookout stations will be burned. Instruments have been removed and the houses abandoned."

In 1931, an L-4 cab was built.

On July 9, 1937, panorama photos were taken at 15 feet above the ground.

With such crappy access, and road maintenance issues likely to occur (washouts, fallen rocks, trees blocking, brush overgrowing), I will just leave it to my map below. The final road was overgrowing fast as of 2017. Some minor cutting was done so jeeps could make it to the summit. I nearly made it but stopped shortly before the summit. Note on map that FR 53 (once was paved) came close to the mountain but it lead to a dead end in 2017 due to washouts at the bottom.