Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-clearwater National Forests, ID)

Things to know:
-There is an unbelievable amount of traffic at this tower. We stayed for for 3 nights and averaged around 8-10 groups visiting per a day. One group felt the need to pick huckleberries under the tower at 6am (they had a lovely conversation at full volume)
-Because of the traffic the roads leading up to the tower consist of moon dust.
-Bring your own sleeping pad/cot. The bed is a clapped out futon and very uncomfortable.
-As mentioned in previous reviews, someone “borrowed” the propane tank so the oven and light are inoperable.
-bathroom is nice
-Nice windows that all work.

TLDR; not a terrible look out but way too busy to get any kind of solitude. The early morning huckleberry pickers are loud.

Things to know:
-There is an unbelievable amount of traffic at this tower. We stayed for for 3 nights and averaged around 8-10 groups visiting per a day. One group felt the need to pick huckleberries under the tower at 6am (they had a lovely conversation at full volume)
-Because of the traffic the roads leading up to the tower consist of moon dust.
-Bring your own sleeping pad/cot. The bed is a clapped out futon and very uncomfortable.
-As mentioned in previous reviews, someone “borrowed” the propane tank so the oven and light are inoperable.
-bathroom is nice
-Nice windows that all work.

TLDR; not a terrible look out but way too busy to get any kind of solitude. The early morning huckleberry pickers are loud.

Staying in the lookout is an awesome experience. There are a few things that folks should know however, and at least one thing that the Forest Service REALLY should do to help. The location is a very popular spot for folks on ATV's and UTV's to drive to, so don't expect to be all alone - you will be disappointed. Also, they can climb almost to the top of the lookout itself (so they can be right below the floor), and can also camp at the base of it. Fortunately no one did that while we were there, but we have since heard of some horrible experiences with this, which would absolutely ruin the trip (people camping and partying right below the tower). As a career natural resource recreation manager, I would strongly suggest the following: At a minimum, clearly and largely post a sign stating that the lookout is a rental camp facility and to respect renter's privacy. There is no indication of this anywhere, so people coming up for the day are unaware that the lookout itself has been rented. Also -make the site below the tower NO CAMPING. This is also easy to do, and very consistent with trying to provide the experience the Forest Service is doing by renting out the lookout. Allowing adjacent camping there is a mistake and poor management.

Staying in the lookout is an awesome experience. There are a few things that folks should know however, and at least one thing that the Forest Service REALLY should do to help. The location is a very popular spot for folks on ATV's and UTV's to drive to, so don't expect to be all alone - you will be disappointed. Also, they can climb almost to the top of the lookout itself (so they can be right below the floor), and can also camp at the base of it. Fortunately no one did that while we were there, but we have since heard of some horrible experiences with this, which would absolutely ruin the trip (people camping and partying right below the tower). As a career natural resource recreation manager, I would strongly suggest the following: At a minimum, clearly and largely post a sign stating that the lookout is a rental camp facility and to respect renter's privacy. There is no indication of this anywhere, so people coming up for the day are unaware that the lookout itself has been rented. Also -make the site below the tower NO CAMPING. This is also easy to do, and very consistent with trying to provide the experience the Forest Service is doing by renting out the lookout. Allowing adjacent camping there is a mistake and poor management.

Our stay at the lookout tower was incredible. The views from the top are breathtaking. It takes a while to get up the mountain. Be advised you have to travel on a dirt forest road for 9 mi to get there. It is fine in a vehicle with all wheel drive, not sure I would take a car up there though.

The location is off the beaten path - and it takes about an hour to get up and down the mountain. I would only recommend staying here if you enjoy hiking or just want to camp out at the tower.

Forest service staff was helpful. We contacted them in advance to check the smoke status, etc.

One complaint was that the propane stove/ heater was not working and there was no instructions provided on how to use it.

Our stay at the lookout tower was incredible. The views from the top are breathtaking. It takes a while to get up the mountain. Be advised you have to travel on a dirt forest road for 9 mi to get there. It is fine in a vehicle with all wheel drive, not sure I would take a car up there though.

The location is off the beaten path - and it takes about an hour to get up and down the mountain. I would only recommend staying here if you enjoy hiking or just want to camp out at the tower.

Forest service staff was helpful. We contacted them in advance to check the smoke status, etc.

One complaint was that the propane stove/ heater was not working and there was no instructions provided on how to use it.

Was a great experience and a great location. The only problem was that some needy person decided they needed the propane more than the LookOut tower did, as a result, there was not any propane available in the tower to cook with. We had firewood for the little camping area but some needy person thought they needed the firewood more than we did :(. If you go, go prepared to cook at a fire on ground level and lock up your firewood! Take the time to read the user instructions in the tower. Be prepared for a very rugged experience and don't be afraid of heights.

Was a great experience and a great location. The only problem was that some needy person decided they needed the propane more than the LookOut tower did, as a result, there was not any propane available in the tower to cook with. We had firewood for the little camping area but some needy person thought they needed the firewood more than we did :(. If you go, go prepared to cook at a fire on ground level and lock up your firewood! Take the time to read the user instructions in the tower. Be prepared for a very rugged experience and don't be afraid of heights.

Really beautiful spot! Well maintained, clean, and everything was as expected. Access was not a problem. We had one of the last days the lookout was open, in October, and there was some snow, which made the drive in the last bit a little dicey, but no problems in the end. The only trouble was with the heater- when we ran it, the carbon monoxide detector kept going off, so we would then have to air out the lookout. We ended up not running the heater, which made for a cold night. I wish the heater ran more smoothly, without producing carbon monoxide.

Really beautiful spot! Well maintained, clean, and everything was as expected. Access was not a problem. We had one of the last days the lookout was open, in October, and there was some snow, which made the drive in the last bit a little dicey, but no problems in the end. The only trouble was with the heater- when we ran it, the carbon monoxide detector kept going off, so we would then have to air out the lookout. We ended up not running the heater, which made for a cold night. I wish the heater ran more smoothly, without producing carbon monoxide.