Cinnamon Butte Lookout

Lookout Elevation: 6,417 feet
Hiking Distance: Drive-up if gate open. Otherwise about a mile.
Elevation Gain: Drive-up but if gate closed, around 800 feet
County: Douglas County
Access: Good gravel roads

Located on the cascade crest, not far from Mt. Thielsen, this staffed lookout typically gets going around the start of July. There is a huge visitors area at the summit of this drive-up volcano. The road up is just a short distance off the highway and a sign on the highway suggests a visit. A gate has been installed recently as a 2020 fire damaged the trees leading to the lookout and salvage operations are underway to make the road safe from falling trees. Once finished, I would guess a new layer of rock will be added to the road and access will resume. For now, if you walk, it is just a simple hike.

In 1934, a 35-foot wooden tower with an L-4 cab was built by the CCC. The lookouts were Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Willis.

In 1936, panoramic photos were taken by James Rittenhouse. There was a road to the summit.

In 1946, the lookout was Dr. Paul G. Trueblood

From 1957 to 1961, the lookout was Alan Madson and his dog. His parents and siblings often visited and brought supplies. During one visit, his sister returned home with 11 chipmunks to be sold to further Allens education at Linfield College.

In 1962 the lookout was Judy Miller, a city girl, and her husband, Darth, They took up summer residence at the isolated fire lookout 6 days after being married in Roseburg on June 13. The Millers moved into Cinnamon Butte where Darth was assigned as fire spotter for the U.S. Forest Service. Darth, was a student at Oregon College of Education majoring in history, and a veteran lookout in the Umpqua service. In two previous fire seasons he manned the Pig Iron Lookout. Mrs. Miller, a 1961 graduate from OCE, was dean of girls and an instructor of ninth grade remedial English at Joseph Lane Junior High School the previous school year. Darth's college education was delayed by a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force.

In 1976, the current 41-foot timber tower with R-6 cab was moved from Buster Butte Lookout where it had been constructed in 1955.

In 1984, the lookout underwent remodeling, new windows, railings and stairs.

In 1985, the roof of the lookout blown off during a heavy windstorm during the winter of 1985-86.

In 2020, the Thielson Fire burned much of the mountain. Crews defended the structures on Cinnamon Butte.

Diamond Lake in the distance

Views under the clouds

Communication structures share the summit

Fog make the forest look on fire

Summit area parking and picnic spots

Standard outhouse for the public

Possible old footing from the first tower

Cinnamon Butte Benchmark 1953

August 1941 with the original tower and cab. Photo by G. E. Griffith

Salvage logging about 100 feet on each side of the road

Cinnamon Butte Lookout

2015 Ron Kemnow photo showing the view I missed during my visit in 2022