Clear Lake Cabin Lookout
Mt. Hood National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Estacada, OR, OR
Price: From $85 per night
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (27 reviews)
Season: May through October
Clear Lake Cabin Lookout is situated on the southern slope of Mt. Hood, providing spectacular panorama views of snow-covered treetops, alpine lakes and rugged Cascade peaks. It also provides access to a variety of recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, as well as winter sports.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Fishing, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/clear-lake-cabin-lookout to be notified when sites open up.
Clear Lake Cabin Lookout offers spectacular panoramic views of Mt. Hood, alpine lakes, and Cascade peaks from the southern slope of Mt. Hood, with access to fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing at an affordable $85/night rate.
Wildlife alert: Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Douglas' Squirrel, Osprey, Varied Thrush, Barrow's Goldeneye, Canada Jay, and Common Garter Snake
Insider tips for Clear Lake Cabin Lookout: Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site Winter access (December-April) requires parking at Skyline Sno-Park, 12 miles south of Government Camp via Highway 26 and Forest Service Road 42 junction Firewood available for purchase on-site
Skip Clear Lake Cabin Lookout if: You need hookups — no hookups available. You require year-round access — seasonal operations May through October for standard access. You prefer established campgrounds with multiple sites — only 1 tent site available.
Best time to visit Clear Lake Cabin Lookout: May-October — Official operating season for the campground. December-April — Winter access available by skiing, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing 3.5 miles one way from Skyline Sno-Park; winter sports opportunities available.
Nearby campgrounds: Little Crater Lake (Estacada, OR), Clear Lake (Or) (Maupin, OR), North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) (Estacada, OR), Oak Fork Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) (TIMOTHY LAKE, OR).
Cell Phone Coverage at Clear Lake Cabin Lookout
Cell signal at Clear Lake Cabin Lookout (Estacada, OR): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Clear Lake Cabin Lookout is situated on the southern slope of Mt. Hood, providing spectacular panorama views of snow-covered treetops, alpine lakes and rugged Cascade peaks. It also provides access to a variety of recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, as well as winter sports.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site
Winter access (December-April) requires parking at Skyline Sno-Park, 12 miles south of Government Camp via Highway 26 and Forest Service Road 42 junction
Firewood available for purchase on-site
Official operating season for the campground
Winter access available by skiing, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing 3.5 miles one way from Skyline Sno-Park; winter sports opportunities available
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Access begins at the junction of Highway 26 and Forest Service Road 42, 12 miles south of Government Camp, Oregon, at the Skyline Sno-Park. Between 12/1 and 04/30, guests must park at the Sno-Park and ski, snowshoe or snowmobile to the facility . From the parking area, proceed on Forest Service Road 42 to the 240 spur road and continue to the lookout, approximately 3.2 miles with an elevation climb of 900 feet. It is a good path for moderate skiers and will take three-and-a-half to four hours to
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Mt. Hood National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Mt. Hood National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Clear Lake Cabin Lookout cost per night?+
What season is Clear Lake Cabin Lookout open?+
Does Clear Lake Cabin Lookout have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Clear Lake Cabin Lookout?+
How do I make reservations at Clear Lake Cabin Lookout?+
What is the cell service like at Clear Lake Cabin Lookout?+
What season is Clear Lake Cabin Lookout open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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