OutReserve

Shorty Peak Lookout

SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT
SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT
SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

About Shorty Peak Lookout

Shorty Peak Lookout, 45 miles 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 mile hike with a 1,300 foot elevation gain. The lookout was refurbished in 2005 and is in excellent condition.

Number of accommodations: 1

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 - Opens on Jun 21

001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

Price not available
🏠 Cabin Unavailable

Site Details

Up to 4 guests
Surface: Gravel
View Site Details

Reviews (44)

What Guests Are Saying

Shorty Peak Lookout offers spectacular views and a memorable experience for visitors, making it a great retreat. Hikers should prepare for a challenging ascent, but many agree the effort is well worth it. While some guests noted issues with bugs and the condition of the lookout's facilities, the overall ambiance and natural beauty are highly praised.

Review Summary

4.8
44 reviews
5
81.8%
36
4
13.6%
6
3
4.5%
2
2
0.0%
0
1
0.0%
0

Brett B

Verified

August 18, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Absolutely loved our stay at Shorty Peak! The 2.5 mile hike in isn’t too bad, just the first .25 miles and the last .25 miles are slightly steep. The lookout itself was immaculately clean as well as the outhouse, which was a nice surprise. The current configuration was two twin beds and a table. Was hoping for a stove/fireplace like Little Guard, but we were never cold at night, even when the temp dropped to about mid-40’s overnight. Great view of Creston, BC at night.

Brett B

Verified

August 18, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Absolutely loved our stay at Shorty Peak! The 2.5 mile hike in isn’t too bad, just the first .25 miles and the last .25 miles are slightly steep. The lookout itself was immaculately clean as well as the outhouse, which was a nice surprise. The current configuration was two twin beds and a table. Was hoping for a stove/fireplace like Little Guard, but we were never cold at night, even when the temp dropped to about mid-40’s overnight. Great view of Creston, BC at night.

Gary E

Verified

August 6, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

4

Good

Gary E

Verified

August 6, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

4

Good

Barry B

Verified

August 2, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

We were pleasantly surprised at how clean the fire tower was inside. It made you proud of our backpacking community, you could tell guests had left things better than they found them. Previous guests also generously left a few needed supplies stashed in the room (which came in handy) and there were also some games. The guys were so excited to find poker chips! One of the coolest features was the mapping tool still in the tower from the 1930's. There is a guest book which we forgot to sign :( Bathroom is a bit of a rocky trek from the tower at night (esp in Grizzly territory) and smelled awful (when do they not?) but other than that it was definitely a fun and memorable experience. We never did hike in to the spring, which is a side-trail about 1/2 mile from the top, so can't say much for the water supply or the length of the trail to the spring. We packed all our water in and managed to get by. But, it is the only potential water source up there and would be bit of a hike from the tower if you didn't get it on your way up.
The morning sunrise is pretty intense as you're up on a peak and the windows have no UV protection/tinting. I recommend sunglasses or that big orange fiery ball will stare right at you!

Barry B

Verified

August 2, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

We were pleasantly surprised at how clean the fire tower was inside. It made you proud of our backpacking community, you could tell guests had left things better than they found them. Previous guests also generously left a few needed supplies stashed in the room (which came in handy) and there were also some games. The guys were so excited to find poker chips! One of the coolest features was the mapping tool still in the tower from the 1930's. There is a guest book which we forgot to sign :( Bathroom is a bit of a rocky trek from the tower at night (esp in Grizzly territory) and smelled awful (when do they not?) but other than that it was definitely a fun and memorable experience. We never did hike in to the spring, which is a side-trail about 1/2 mile from the top, so can't say much for the water supply or the length of the trail to the spring. We packed all our water in and managed to get by. But, it is the only potential water source up there and would be bit of a hike from the tower if you didn't get it on your way up.
The morning sunrise is pretty intense as you're up on a peak and the windows have no UV protection/tinting. I recommend sunglasses or that big orange fiery ball will stare right at you!

Terry M

Verified

July 27, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Thank you forest service for keeping Shorty Lookout our favorite place to unwind! This was our 5th trip so you know we love it! The stars, Milky Way and the Comet were amazing!

Terry M

Verified

July 27, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Thank you forest service for keeping Shorty Lookout our favorite place to unwind! This was our 5th trip so you know we love it! The stars, Milky Way and the Comet were amazing!

Brent H

Verified

July 26, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Awesomeness 😊👍

Brent H

Verified

July 26, 2020 Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SHORTY PEAK LOOKOUT

5

Awesomeness 😊👍

Location Shorty Peak Lookout

Address:
6286 Main Street
Bonners Ferry, ID, 83805
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 48.9403 / -116.688

Elevation: 1940 feet

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: June 4, 2026

USDA Forest Service Logo
Managed by USDA Forest Service