About Lookout Butte Lookout
Number of accommodations: 1
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Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
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LB1, Loop: LOOKOUT BUTTE LOOKOUT
Site Details
Reviews (12)
What Guests Are Saying
Lookout Butte Lookout offers stunning views, especially of the Milky Way when smoke clears. Visitors should be ready for a challenging stair climb and should note that there are no cots available. The peaceful atmosphere and good road access enhance the overall experience, despite the absence of amenities.
What Guests Are Saying
Lookout Butte Lookout offers stunning views, especially of the Milky Way when smoke clears. Visitors should be ready for a challenging stair climb and should note that there are no cots available. The peaceful atmosphere and good road access enhance the overall experience, despite the absence of amenities.
Review Summary
Jeff R
VerifiedJuly 24, 2024 • Stayed at: LB1, Loop: LOOKOUT BUTTE LOOKOUT
Very interesting place, THERE IS NOT COTS as it says. The view is amazing, the road is good there. There is nothing out the. The peace and quiet is wonderful.
Mike P
VerifiedAugust 12, 2024 • Stayed at: LB1, Loop: LOOKOUT BUTTE LOOKOUT
We went up during several fires (31) , lots of smoke, no visible flame from the tower. Visibility changed with the wind, in the evening the smoke cleared and we could see the milky way! Overall great place, but be prepared for a ruthless stair climb. There was a pully and rope, but too thin to pull up anything heavy. The bats came out at night also, low bugs.
Location Lookout Butte Lookout
Address:
Fenn Ranger Station, 831 Selway Rd
Kooskia, ID, 83539
United States
Travel to Lowell, Idaho, located approximately midway between Lewiston, Idaho and Missoula, Montana on Highway 12, milepost 97. Cross the Selway Bridge, drive 3.5 miles and cross the Swiftwater Bridge on your right. Follow the signs 13 miles for about 1 hour to the lookout.
Alternative Route
From Hwy 12, cross the middle fork of the Clearwater River at the bridge above Kooskia (MP 74) turn left onto paved County Road 1842, towards the Kooskia National Fish Hatchery, pass the fish hatchery approximately, 3.5 miles stay to the left on County Route 286 for approximately 5 miles when it will convert from County Road to Forest Road 286 and turn into a gravel road. Follow Forest Road 286 for an additional 8 miles where Forest Road #470 joins from the left. Stay right on #286 for approximately 1.5 miles to the junction of Road #286 w/ Forest Road #1129 and take a left onto #1129. Travel approximately 1.3 miles and the spur road to Lookout Butte Lookout is signed and to the right. It is about 1/8th of a mile up the lookout from the main road. This last segment is a rough, outsloped, native surface road that requires high clearance to reach Lookout Butte Lookout Tower.
The closest major road is Highway 12, which is located approximately 12 miles from the lookout, accessible via local roads from Lowell, Idaho.
Elevation: 2039 feet
94 mi drive to downtown Kooskia (about 2 hr 28 min)
Policies & Rules
General
- Guests will recieve lock combination in confirmation email after reservation is complete, make sure to have this with you before going to the lookout as cell service is not reliable
- Guests are discouraged from bringing small children due to the dangers that exist on towers of this height; use caution with pets
- Access to lookout requires a vehicle with high ground clearance for the last half mile; trailers are not recommended
- Most lookouts have occasional visits from Forest Service employees or members of the public who want to look at the views from the catwalk or use the pit toilet; the public is allowed at this site.
- Be sure to lock the cabin if you leave for the day.
- Cell phone coverage is unreliable.
- This is a pack-it-in/pack-it-out facility.
- No livestock allowed at the lookout site.
- Please stay inside cabin during lightning activity or high winds.
- Click here for more information about Nez Perce-Clearwater 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.
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Last updated: September 5, 2026
