Dixie Butte Lookout

Perched at the eastern end of the John Day Valley and overlooking Prairie City, Dixie Butte, also known as Forest Road 2610, offers an unparalleled viewpoint of the Blue Mountains. One can enjoy a grand view of the Elkhorn, Strawberry, Aldrich, and Greenhorn Mountains from the summit, with the Monument Rock Wilderness and Castle Rock also visible to the southeast. When the lighting is correct, the Ochoco's flat-topped Lookout Mountain silhouette can be seen in the distant west. The area is also known for its summer wildflower displays.

Dixie Butte was named by Civil War veterans who settled Dixie Creek, establishing gold mining claims during the gold rush of the 1860s and 1870s. Historically, over 20,000 ounces of gold were extracted from Dixie Creek. Local rumor suggests a donkey engine, an immobile steam engine used for pulling logs early in the 20th century, is located somewhere on Dixie Butte.

Established as a fire detection site as early as 1911, Dixie Butte initially featured a lookout connected by telephone line. 1921, a D-6 cupola lookout house was built, and a wood frame garage was added in 1934. The lookout house was replaced in 1935 by a 14'x14 ′ L-4 ground cab, referenced in the Malheur National Forest Archive as an Aladdin plan 14'x14 ′ lookout house. In the fall of 1967, a windstorm damaged the structure, leading to the construction of a new lookout in 1968. This 15'x15 ′ R-6 flat-top ground house-style lookout still stands today and remains one of the few staffed lookouts in Oregon.

The road to Dixie Butte is rough, and high-clearance vehicles are recommended due to washouts and gullies. The only visible camping area is at the beginning of the trail.