How to drive the unpaved road to the lookout at Tower Mountain in Oregon?
Tower Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.088m (6,850ft) above sea level, located in Umatilla County, in the US state of Oregon.
Where is Tower Mountain?
The peak is located south of La Grande, in the northeastern part of Oregon within the Umatilla National Forest.
Why is there a road to Tower Mountain?
At the summit there’s a lookout tower known as Tower Mountain Lookout, built in 1929. It remains in service today. Originally known as Lookout Mountain, the peak was officially renamed Tower Mountain in 1925 to avoid confusion with another nearby mountain sharing the exact same name.
Is the road to Tower Mountain unpaved?
The road to the summit is totally unpaved, with narrow parts and steep sections. It’s called NF-5226. Most passenger cars can easily handle the drive under current conditions. While doable for motorbikes, riders will need to take extra care along the way.
Is the road to Tower Mountain open year-round?
Set high in the Blue Mountains, the road is not plowed in winters.
How long is the road to Tower Mountain?
Starting from the paved NF-052, the road to the summit is 13.51km (8.4 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 559m (1,837 ft) and the average gradient is 4.13%.