Jonsrud Viewpoint

Jonsrud Viewpoint is a scenic overlook above the town of Sandy, Oregon, prized for one of the most photographed panoramas in the state: Mount Hood rising over the Sandy River Valley.

About Jonsrud Viewpoint

The site covers roughly 4.95 acres on a bluff overlooking the valley. Pioneers travelling the Barlow Trail named the long ridge below it the "Devil's Backbone," and the viewpoint has long been rated among the best views in Oregon. It's a designated stop on the Oregon Scenic Byways program and is named for Phil Jonsrud, a local historian.

Telescopes & viewing

Coin-operated telescopes are installed at the overlook, letting visitors get a closer look at Mount Hood and the surrounding valley. The site also hosts an Enchroma color-blind-adapted scenic viewer, the first of its kind in the United States outside Tennessee, making the view accessible to visitors with color vision deficiency.

Location & getting there

The overlook sits above Sandy, Oregon, in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, with sweeping views east toward Mount Hood. As a public roadside viewpoint rather than a research facility, it's easy to reach by car and makes a natural stop along the scenic byway.

Visiting Jonsrud Viewpoint

Jonsrud Viewpoint is a public park site open for visitors to stop and use the coin-operated telescopes. Check the City of Sandy parks pages for any current hours or seasonal notices before you go.

See your named star from here

Jonsrud's telescopes are built for the daytime view of Mount Hood, but the clear Oregon skies above the valley are also a fine place to look up after dark. If you've named a star with Star Register, look up its coordinates in our catalogue and try to spot it from a dark corner of the viewpoint.