Dee Wright Observatory (McKenzie Pass)
Dee Wright Observatory
A stone observation tower built of lava rock on the lava fields of McKenzie Pass, with window openings framing the Cascade snow peaks.
Dee Wright Observatory is an observation tower built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps from lava rock. It sits in a vast black lava field on McKenzie Pass. Its stone walls have window openings aligned with Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, the Three Sisters, and other peaks, and the roof holds a bronze directional plate. About 800 meters away, a lava trail lets you observe volcanic landforms. Getting there requires driving the historic Old McKenzie Highway (Highway 242), which is narrow and winding and has vehicle length restrictions. It is open only in summer and autumn. The site is about 25 km from Sisters.
Opening hours
Approx. July–Oct, all day
Nearby sights
- Three Sisters
- Green Lakes Trail
- Sisters
- Sparks Lake
- Mt. Bachelor
- Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
- Tumalo Falls
- Shevlin Park