DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT
DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT
DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

Featured amenities

Parking Parking

About Deer Ridge Lookout

Deer Ridge Lookout, perched on a 40 ft timber frame, boasts excellent views of the Purcell mountain ranges of Northern Idaho, Canada and Montana. Located 24 mi northeast of Bonners Ferry, guests can enjoy magnificent scenery, hiking and wildlife watching. The lookout can be accessed by car and the gravel road to the lookout is well maintained.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Safety and Security

Safety and Security

  • Fire Extinguishers
Cabin Outdoor Features

Cabin Outdoor Features

  • Deck or Patio

Views and Setting

  • View
Missing information?

001, Loop: AREA DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

🏠 Cabin
  • 4 guests

Site Details

Up to 4 guests
Surface: Gravel
View Site Details

Reviews (27)

What Guests Are Saying

Deer Ridge Lookout offers a clean, well-maintained facility with stunning views and easy access for most vehicles. Guests appreciated the comfortable sleeping arrangements, spacious interior, and handy pulley system for transporting belongings. While the lookout lacks some amenities like cooking facilities and window screens, it remains a popular choice for a relaxing getaway amidst beautiful surroundings.

Review Summary

4.7
27 reviews
5
74.1%
20
4
25.9%
7
3
0.0%
0
2
0.0%
0
1
0.0%
0

Brandon S

Verified

July 22, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

5

Great views. Cool lookout. Highly recommend

Daria C

Verified

August 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

5

Such a beautiful lookout stay! Accessible even for most regular vehicles. Such a beautiful facility and everyone who has stayed there has taken care to keep the lookout cleaner than they found it. There’s a pulley system which was SUPER handy. You might want to bring some leather gloves to help prevent rope burn while belaying your belonging back down. The top staircase could use some attention making sure it’s attached to the structure where the top of the stairs meet the lookout deck. Windows on all sides to air it out, so even on a 94 degree day we were able to cool the lookout down nicely.

David V

Verified

June 16, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

5

Lookout was great. Clean and upkept

Nicole R

Verified

July 26, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

5

Double check the directions - super quick if you get them right! Huckleberries and strawberries! Nice and relaxing.

Susan S

Verified

August 9, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

5

Clean, well maintained lookout. Easy drive to base and fairly close to town. View was great, though a little smoky. No extras like flashlight, garbage bags, paper towels so bring everything you need. No cooking in lookout so plan accordingly. Great experience and very clean!

Joel K

Verified

August 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

5

We did a roadtrip visiting and stay in 7 different fire lookouts 7 days in a row, bringing our cat along with us. If you want more information about that, find me on YouTube @JoelKalich.

Location and Access:
We had no issues accessing the lookout, the code worked as expected. The road was rough in places, but was no problem for my lifted Volvo XC70. I expect a stock Subaru Outback would be fine to get up here and maybe a sedan or the like if you're careful, though the last 50 ft are very rough, you might just have to park slightly further away.

The lookout:
We had no issues getting into the lookout, the code worked well. It was clean and ready to use. The height of this tower is a standout feature, as it was the tallest lookout tower on our trip at 40'. The interior of the lookout has been well looked after and was in excellent condition. The main table for cards and whatnot is a dining-room-style table and worked well. The beds were some of the comfiest on our journey. The toilet was relatively nearby and easy to access. The toilet itself was clean and well stocked with TP for us. Views at this lookout are not 360 degrees, but more like 270, as it's at the end of a ridge, but what views you do have are great. We did bemoan the lack of window screens, or at least our cat did, as it meant she had to wear her harness the whole time, so we could open the windows to keep it cool in there.

Danyelle K

Verified

September 29, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA DEER RIDGE LOOKOUT

5

Very clean. two beds with mattresses. fire pit down below. got a call a day before with the code. We had a great time!!

Location & Directions for Deer Ridge Lookout

6286 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 United States

Elevation: 1,427 ft

Nearest town

Bonners Ferry, ID - 24 mi

About 54 min to downtown

Policies & Rules

General

  • Entry is by combination lock; contact the ranger district at (208) 267-5561 for combination 10-14 days prior to arrival
  • Children are discouraged from staying at this facility due to the height of the lookout
  • No candles, open flames, or smoking inside
  • Please bring garbage bags; this is a 'pack it in-pack it out' facility
  • Bring bedding, cooking supplies, flashlights, etc.
  • Use extreme caution when climbing stairs
  • Upon arrival, read lightning safety instructions located in cabin
  • Click here for more information on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests
  • Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 21, 2026

Message us

Need help?

Our team is here to help you find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

Message us

Replies within minutes

Explore Bonners Ferry, ID

Population: 2,669

Nearby city: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Approx. 87 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,778 ft

USDA Forest Service Logo
Managed by the USDA Forest Service