SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT
SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT
SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

About Shorty Peak Lookout

Shorty Peak Lookout, 45 mi northwest of Bonners Ferry, sits atop Shorty Peak with views of the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges of Northern Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. The rustic dwelling was once used to patrol forest fires, and is now a unique way for overnight guests to escape the city and become enthralled with 360 degree views of area's magnificence. Access requires a moderate to steep 2.5 mi hike with a 1.3 ft elevation gain. The lookout was refurbished in 2005 and is in excellent condition.

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

Views and Setting

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001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

$45
/ per night
🏠 Cabin
  • 4 guests

Site Details

Up to 4 guests
Surface: Gravel
View Site Details

Reviews (68)

What Guests Are Saying

Visitors to Shorty Peak Lookout enjoyed stunning views and a memorable experience, with highlights including sightings of the northern lights and an overall sense of adventure during the hike. While some noted challenges such as spider infestations and bugs on the trail, many appreciated the lookout's cleanliness and available amenities. Overall, guests found their stay worthwhile, appreciating the beautiful scenery and the chance to connect with nature.

Review Summary

4.8
68 reviews
5
82.4%
56
4
13.2%
9
3
4.4%
3
2
0.0%
0
1
0.0%
0

Tiffany N

Verified

July 10, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Gorgeous views and a wonderful time making memories with family!! A perfect cabin to have a private retreat with 360 degree views!

Thea E

Verified

July 1, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

4

My boyfriend and I were set to spend two nights here. We had a family emergency and had to leave just three hours after getting to the lookout. Though we didn’t spend any nights, I still wanted to leave a review for what we did experience. When I was reserving this, I felt like the pictures of the inside of the lookout seemed really underwhelming and blurry, so I wanted to be able to provide better, more telling pictures for future guests of this cabin. I took only a few pictures before we got our call telling us to get back home asap. This was our first “stay” at any sort of mountain lookout. It was super fun to be inside one and feel on top of the world. The weather was cloudy and windy but with patches of sunshine. Mosquitoes were horrendous at the trailhead but nonexistent at the lookout for us. We used Apple Maps for directions, and as other reviewers have mentioned, you definitely need to compare to this site’s written directions to get the correct start of the trek. We found it no problem though. We didn’t get to see the spring but the signage there was clear along the way to the lookout. There is a fire pit by the lookout with a grate. The outhouse looked in good condition. I left behind tp in the cabin. There is a good amount of tools & games in the lookout. The guest book is fun to flip through. We toyed with fixing up a window crank while there & wanted to find a way to help the door open/close better but ran out of our very short time. There is plenty of firewood up there from renovations this spring. There is also some drinking water, fuel for a backpacking stove, bug spray, etc. There is also a broom & bucket & brush to clean with. I swept the place once we got there and disinfected surfaces so we left it pretty clean. Lastly, the twin bed frames are not movable, but the table and its 2 chairs are. There are also a couple benches. Saw a couple elk on the drive but no major wildlife on the hike. No snow on the drive or hike.

Thea E

Verified

July 1, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

4

My boyfriend and I were set to spend two nights here. We had a family emergency and had to leave just three hours after getting to the lookout. Though we didn’t spend any nights, I still wanted to leave a review for what we did experience. When I was reserving this, I felt like the pictures of the inside of the lookout seemed really underwhelming and blurry, so I wanted to be able to provide better, more telling pictures for future guests of this cabin. I took only a few pictures before we got our call telling us to get back home asap. This was our first “stay” at any sort of mountain lookout. It was super fun to be inside one and feel on top of the world. The weather was cloudy and windy but with patches of sunshine. Mosquitoes were horrendous at the trailhead but nonexistent at the lookout for us. We used Apple Maps for directions, and as other reviewers have mentioned, you definitely need to compare to this site’s written directions to get the correct start of the trek. We found it no problem though. We didn’t get to see the spring but the signage there was clear along the way to the lookout. There is a fire pit by the lookout with a grate. The outhouse looked in good condition. I left behind tp in the cabin. There is a good amount of tools & games in the lookout. The guest book is fun to flip through. We toyed with fixing up a window crank while there & wanted to find a way to help the door open/close better but ran out of our very short time. There is plenty of firewood up there from renovations this spring. There is also some drinking water, fuel for a backpacking stove, bug spray, etc. There is also a broom & bucket & brush to clean with. I swept the place once we got there and disinfected surfaces so we left it pretty clean. Lastly, the twin bed frames are not movable, but the table and its 2 chairs are. There are also a couple benches. Saw a couple elk on the drive but no major wildlife on the hike. No snow on the drive or hike.

Thea E

Verified

July 1, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

4

My boyfriend and I were set to spend two nights here. We had a family emergency and had to leave just three hours after getting to the lookout. Though we didn’t spend any nights, I still wanted to leave a review for what we did experience. When I was reserving this, I felt like the pictures of the inside of the lookout seemed really underwhelming and blurry, so I wanted to be able to provide better, more telling pictures for future guests of this cabin. I took only a few pictures before we got our call telling us to get back home asap. This was our first “stay” at any sort of mountain lookout. It was super fun to be inside one and feel on top of the world. The weather was cloudy and windy but with patches of sunshine. Mosquitoes were horrendous at the trailhead but nonexistent at the lookout for us. We used Apple Maps for directions, and as other reviewers have mentioned, you definitely need to compare to this site’s written directions to get the correct start of the trek. We found it no problem though. We didn’t get to see the spring but the signage there was clear along the way to the lookout. There is a fire pit by the lookout with a grate. The outhouse looked in good condition. I left behind tp in the cabin. There is a good amount of tools & games in the lookout. The guest book is fun to flip through. We toyed with fixing up a window crank while there & wanted to find a way to help the door open/close better but ran out of our very short time. There is plenty of firewood up there from renovations this spring. There is also some drinking water, fuel for a backpacking stove, bug spray, etc. There is also a broom & bucket & brush to clean with. I swept the place once we got there and disinfected surfaces so we left it pretty clean. Lastly, the twin bed frames are not movable, but the table and its 2 chairs are. There are also a couple benches. Saw a couple elk on the drive but no major wildlife on the hike. No snow on the drive or hike.

Tiffany N

Verified

July 3, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Great cabin with amazing 360 degree views!

Tiffany N

Verified

July 3, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Great cabin with amazing 360 degree views!

Tiffany N

Verified

July 3, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Great cabin with amazing 360 degree views!

Granite A

Verified

August 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Granite A

Verified

August 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Granite A

Verified

August 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Location & Directions for Shorty Peak Lookout

6286 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 United States

Elevation: 1,940 ft

Getting There

From the Bonners Ferry Ranger Station: Take Highway 95 north for 17 mi. Turn left onto Highway 1 and head north for 2 mi. Turn left onto Copeland Road and head west for 4 mi. Stay right at the T junction and continue north on Westside Road for 9 ...

Nearest town

Bonners Ferry, ID - 48 mi

About over 1 hr (99 min) to downtown

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 22, 2026

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Explore Bonners Ferry, ID

Population: 2,669

Nearby city: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Approx. 88 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,778 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service