Indian Ridge Lookout, Blue River, OR

Indian Ridge Lookout is located in the McKenzie River Ranger District, Willamette National Forest (2 hrs 13 min east of Springfield, OR) with an elevation of 5,221 feet. The site is normally open from the beginning of July to mid October. There is a fee of $75.00 per night.

Make a Reservation

Campsite Reviews (7)

3.6 out of 5

5 star		0%
4 star		86%
3 star		0%
2 star		0%
1 star		14%

@KariB55F900AAB · Camped on Sep 24, 2023 at Campsite #C1

I was at Indian ridge for a cold stormy evening. The lookout though beautiful needs some love. There are two twin size beds. One has a mattress the other doesnt have much more than a mattrass pad topper. Very thin and uncomfortable. The Windows and doors do not have latches and though the instructions tell you to close all as you leave that is not possible except the door which has a latch on the outside but not the inside. The wind was so strong that every 15 min. guest would blow open both windows and the door. I tried putting a chair in front of the door and that wasnt enough to keep it closed. This is a beautiful and extremely popular look out. Which rents for perfume rates ($75) compared to some others that have more features and rent for much less $40. Having doors and windows that close and stay closed seems a reasonable standard. I will say the morning sunrise is epic, make sure you are up about 45 min prior to sunrise for the full experience.

@JasonK9381533 · Camped on Sep 6, 2023 at Campsite #C1

The location is nothing short of spectacular - I took advantage of a surprising opportunity to book one night late in the season, and we had a wonderful time. The tower itself is lovely, but could use one new mattress - it was near useless. The broken gate that other reviewers mentioned is still broken (or, broken again).

@BryonyM3717930 · Camped on Jul 9, 2023 at Campsite #C1

We had an amazing girls' night at the lookout! The view of the Three Sisters was front and center, and we could see all the way north to Mt Hood and south to Diamond Peak. This lookout easily makes it into my top 5 out of the 17 I've stayed in so far! Just a friendly reminder to take note of the limited amenities provided and check if campfires are allowed. As this place is quite popular, it's possible that supplies like toilet paper and cleaning wipes may run out. Although we didn't encounter any bug issues, there were a few small holes in the screens that could be easily fixed with some 2" x 2" scrap screen and a needle and thread. Additionally, it's a good idea to bring some blue painter's tape in case the bugs are bothersome, as there were noticeable gaps in the door and a few other areas. Oh, and if you're up for it, bringing a new deck of cards would be greatly appreciated! Lastly, it's worth mentioning that the cell service for AT&T was intermittent and not reliable. However, Verizon had steady and good service throughout our stay. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a memorable getaway.

@SierraB223 · Camped on Aug 8, 2021 at Campsite #C1

Stayed here for one night (Sunday-Monday). We only saw one truck come up that was there when we arrived, otherwise we were left alone. This is a very popular lookout for others to drive to and the gate is broken so you will probably have visitors if you’re staying multiple dates. I had decent cell coverage at the tower and the bathroom was very clean. The lookout was pretty much cleared out of anything and I did not see any rodent droppings at all. The fires were a bit close and the wind change had us a bit nervous but we woke up to clear skies and a gorgeous sunrise. I took away 1 star for the broken gate. I tried to make it look like it was locked but they need to fix it.

@SierraB9584562 · Camped on Aug 8, 2021 at Campsite #C1

@ElizabethD4334 · Camped on Sep 30, 2019 at Campsite #C1

We stayed in the lookout on a weeknight in the end of September. The drive to the lookout is on well maintained forest roads, passable by most vehicles. It had just snowed, and was forecasted to be cloudy, a bit snowy, and a low of 22*. We brought a propane buddy heater that was helpful while we were awake, and had warm sleeping bags, but the lookout was very cold. The skies cleared up in the night, and stars were beautiful and visible. We awakened to a glorious sunrise, and beautiful clear views. The sun eventually warmed up the inside of the lookout, and we spent a lazy day enjoying the lookout and exploring the ridge before reluctantly leaving that evening. The lookout, outhouse, and surrounding area were super clean and well maintained. There were no critters, bugs, or leaks in the lookout. Here's the only downside to this lookout, however: it's popular. Since it's relatively easy to get to, folks just drive on up. We closed the gate at the entrance to the final spur road that leads to the lookout, and folks still opened it and drove up. Even on our snowy weekday, two vehicles came up and spent some time hanging out, and had intended to eat lunch there, but left due to the snow.

@ElizabethD722 · Camped on Sep 30, 2019 at Campsite #C1

See other campgrounds near Blue River, OR with availability Tonight
See other campgrounds near Blue River, OR with availability This Weekend

Other Campgrounds Nearby

We track all the sites so you don't have to.

Reservation Systems

Campsites Tracking

Campsite Reviews

Available Tonight

Available this Weekend

Cancellations Today

PRO $2.50/month

You're in Control. We never save credit card information or auto-renew subscriptions.

Availability Map Search
3000+ Interactive Campground Maps
Campground Virtual Tours
Save Your Favorite Campsites
Favorite Campsites Availability
Campground Mobile Speed Test Maps
National Parks, Forests & Ranger District Layers
Wildfires & Air Quality Map Layer
Satellite View Map Layer
Campsite SMS Cancellation Alerts
Rent your Property & Cabins
Love's & Super Walmart Map Layers
Cracker Barrel & Bass Pro Shop Map Layers
Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) Layer
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Map Layer
RV Propane, Parking, Dump, Water Map Layer

Pro is FREE for 7 days. (No credit card information required!)

Thanks to all our Supporting Members

@BranJen - Santa Clara, CA

I wanted to thank you for this site and especially for the notifications feature. Thanks to your site and my subscription I was able to book a campsite I've been annoyingly trying to book for 5 years unsuccessfully. So thank you.

@Wondering - Oregon

Wow! Woke up this morning to a notification that a favorite had opened at Paulina, and when I went to check, it was there. This membership just paid for itself in the first 24 hours I owned it. Couldn't take the site it conflicted with a trip already set, but it truly was there. Thanks Tons.

@CarlaLThompson - Colorado

I just love this site and I tell everyone about it! It's so competitive to secure desired campsites and the alerts really help track when sites free up. The best part of this story is our alert notified a cancellation the next day!!!!!! Just incredible!!!