This Lookout is worth the drive - no hiking involved. It sits on 30 foot stilts and is stocked with plenty of firewood by the local USFS. Beautiful views of the entire Sanders County and the Clarkfork River. Beds for two. No water, but there are creeks all the way to the Lookout.
This old Guard Station is in the perfect location. Easy to drive to and close to miles and miles of trails in the Kootenai National Forest. Plenty of beds for a full family - four upstairs and one downstairs. History galore in the building and surrounding areas. Some complaints of mice - but that’s to be expected from a building from 1908.
This retired Lookout offers views of Glacier Park, Canadian mountain ranges, and most of the Flathead National Forest - on a clear day. We spent one night in the Lookout early this summer. The hike is short but steep and very rewarding. Since it is in National Forest and not in the park, we were able to bring our dog, who had a great time chasing the two resident mule deer away from the site. There is no water available at the Lookout or by the trailhead; we filtered water from a small spring/creek that is about a half-mile from the trailhead. I’m not sure if that would be available later in the summer though.
The Lookout needs to be reserved and spots fill very quickly. The drive is fairly long but you can stop at the Polebridge bakery on the way - worth the drive in itself. Many precious guests have left small contributions to the cabin, and I would suggest doing the same to keep the tradition going. We left s’mores fixings and plenty of firewood.
Enjoy!