Yamsay Mountain is located east of the Cascades by about forty miles and is relatively unknown, even to Oregonians. Overshadowed by Mount Scott, Mount Thielsen and the Crater Lake area, Yamsay is hard to identify even if you are looking right at it. It is a Rodney Dangerfield kind of mountain, it really doesn't get any respect.

A lookout once adorned its top and kept watch on the surrounding countryside but it has been long since dismantled. Only concrete abutments and zillions of nails remain to identify that this was once one of the proud firewatchers
that once dotted the land. A Benchmark that marked the summit is also gone although two witness markers remain to indicate where it once was.

Information is sparse on the lookout but what I can glean from Ray Kreseks book, "Fire Lookouts of the Northwest" indicates that an 80 foot steel tower was built atop Yamsay Mtn in 1929 and dismantled in 1961. Hopefully, I can find more about the lookout in the near future.

Yamsay Mountain is one of Oregon's highest peaks, coming in at number 73 on the Mazama list. It is also ranked number 14 on the Oregon prominence list
thanks to its 3181 feet of prominence. Want to know what prominence is all about? Click HERE for more details.

Yamsay Mountain is a shield volcano (explained here) and the cliff rimmed crater was formed by ice, not fire. An ice age glacier created the craterlike cirque that is seen once you attain the summit. You have to look hard to imagine all of this since the majority of the existing crater is now covered in forest.

Yamsay is a Klamath Indian word (from Yamsi) that means " the North Wind".
Not much is known about this mountain as far as the literature goes and only one book that I know of has any information on Yamsay Mountain at all,
"Exploring Oregon's Wild Areas" by William Sullivan. The Yamsay Mountain information can be found on pages
302-04

Getting There

The fun part is getting to this mountain. Located roughly 90 miles south of Bend and 75 miles north of Klamath Falls Oregon, you have to do your homework, or mapwork to find your way to the western trailhead. Take U.S. highway 97 to the Silver Lake junction and Oregon highway 76 and turn east. Pass by the Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge and after mile post 22 start watching for FS road 49 and a sign for Jackson Creek campground.

Turn east on this road and pass the Jackson Creek Campground road and continue on to a road (FS 4972) on the left (4.7 miles from highway 76). Actually, once you pass the Jackson Creek CG, it is only 3/10ths of a mile to this road. Turn left (I saw no sign) and drive 1.5 miles to another road, FS 4973, and turn left again. This road has a blue sign that indicates Yamsay Mtn on it. Drive
3.8 miles up this road, but be aware that while the road is in good condition, the brush alongside the road in a few areas is closing in and you will get a few minor brush scratches on your vehicle. Drive to the end of this road where the TH begins.

From the east, one needs to stay tuned as I will provide this information as soon as I can obtain it. I have only been in from the west and perhaps someone else might have experience from the east.

Red Tape

No red tape that I am aware of and Yamsay Mountain is located in the Winema National Forest.

Fremont-Winema National Forests
Headquarters:

1301 South G Street
Lakeview, OR 97630
(541)947-2151

Also, information could most likely be obtained from the
Chiloquin Ranger Station or Chemult Ranger Stations, located off of highway
97.

Camping

Jackson Creek Campground has 11 or 12 spaces and vault toilets. The campground is pleasant and shaded and there was room enough for a trailer or motorhome or two. Tables and firepits were provided and there was no fee for camping there. On a labor day weekend, I saw only three other campsites being utilized. Jackson Creek is a nice stream and water can be taken from it although I would filter it before useage.

Other camping or lodging possibilities could be found near Crater Lake or off of highway 97. It would be possible to car camp at the western trailhead.

External Links and odds and ends

Add External Links text here.

The Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is on the way (from US 97)to Yamsay Mountain. Take the time to read this link to find out more. Also this ONE.

Logging near the Refuge? Click HERE

Find out about another prominence peak, Bald Mountain by clicking HERE.
Bald Mtn ranks #41 on the Oregon Prominence peak list. An active lookout sits atop it and you are cautioned to stay off of the lookout itself as the current lookout has been hostile to those who climb up the stairs.

It is reported that the Yamsay area gets 40 inches of precipitation a year and you can expect snow to cover the area from November on. Thunderstorms are common during the summer and falls are generally pleasant but an active area for hunters to be. Wear orange in the fall and be aware that Jackson Creek Campground may be fully occupied during the hunting season.

William Sullivan's book, "Exploring Oregon's Wild Areas"

Routes

I have put up a route from the west but my understanding is that there is also a route that the forest service favors from the east. William Sullivan mentions this route in his fine book, "Exploring Oregon's Wild Areas" and he calls this route the Fremont Trail. It is almost 17 miles long. Nuff said.
I hope someone who has experience with this trail might add it as a route to the Yamsay page but since I only have experience with the western route, I will leave it at that.

Area Map

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