Hornet Lookout

This is how my favorite lookout in the flathead valley area. The hike up was pretty steep but short, thankfully! The lookout itself had 369 views and we had a bucket list moment and were able to see the northern lights! The lookout is clean, well stocked but cots are terribly uncomfortable. Also the stove doesn’t put out much heat so did freeze a bit but still 1000000% worth it! The resident deer are cute and friendly. We only had one set of hikers come up and hang out but they were actually really cool, respectable and we all had some great convos! Can’t wait to go back.

This is how my favorite lookout in the flathead valley area. The hike up was pretty steep but short, thankfully! The lookout itself had 369 views and we had a bucket list moment and were able to see the northern lights! The lookout is clean, well stocked but cots are terribly uncomfortable. Also the stove doesn’t put out much heat so did freeze a bit but still 1000000% worth it! The resident deer are cute and friendly. We only had one set of hikers come up and hang out but they were actually really cool, respectable and we all had some great convos! Can’t wait to go back.

Great Lookout experience. The lanterns are battery operated, not propane. The stove worked great, as did the woodstove. Be aware, when you enter the code on the padlock you have to push UP first, then pull down for it to open.
The views are the best we’ve seen from a lookout so far. The hike up, which we did TWICE the first day, and again the second day seemed harder than most people admit to. But we decided it was worth the effort. Spent our time looking out all the windows, in the main lookout and in the cupola, plus knitting and reading.

Great Lookout experience. The lanterns are battery operated, not propane. The stove worked great, as did the woodstove. Be aware, when you enter the code on the padlock you have to push UP first, then pull down for it to open.
The views are the best we’ve seen from a lookout so far. The hike up, which we did TWICE the first day, and again the second day seemed harder than most people admit to. But we decided it was worth the effort. Spent our time looking out all the windows, in the main lookout and in the cupola, plus knitting and reading.

Make sure you take firewood in with you - and be ready for the weather to switch at any moment. We hiked in with sunshine and then quickly had a winter storm with snow upon us (June 18th). We may have been the first occupants of the season so we arrived to a dirty cabin with lots of junk left over from last season and lots of mice activity. Unless it's water or firewood don't leave it up there- pack it in pack it out. We hiked out with a bag of trash (just crap) that people thought they should leave because it didn't work or they didn't want to pack it out. Mice were plentiful since it was early season and loved all the paper products past campers thought were a good idea to leave behind. There were lots of traps all empty because they had more than enough to eat all the throughout the cabin. Overall a fun night with 40-60 mph winds but super thankful the wood stove worked well and kept us warm. Views after the storm were pretty stunning and the drive gives you great views of the mountains over in Glacier.

Make sure you take firewood in with you - and be ready for the weather to switch at any moment. We hiked in with sunshine and then quickly had a winter storm with snow upon us (June 18th). We may have been the first occupants of the season so we arrived to a dirty cabin with lots of junk left over from last season and lots of mice activity. Unless it's water or firewood don't leave it up there- pack it in pack it out. We hiked out with a bag of trash (just crap) that people thought they should leave because it didn't work or they didn't want to pack it out. Mice were plentiful since it was early season and loved all the paper products past campers thought were a good idea to leave behind. There were lots of traps all empty because they had more than enough to eat all the throughout the cabin. Overall a fun night with 40-60 mph winds but super thankful the wood stove worked well and kept us warm. Views after the storm were pretty stunning and the drive gives you great views of the mountains over in Glacier.

The road is great heading up to the lookout & does get a little narrow towards the end. There is no service once you leave West Glacier till you are halfway into the hike. Once you get to the lookout, you'll have enough service to send text messages & load social media (Verizon & AT&T) if you stand close to the fireplace. I wasn't sure about the service at the lookout, so I checked in with my family from the Polebridge Mercantile, and they happily let me use their landline. Make sure to get a few huckleberry bear claws at the Mercantile!
The lookout was equipped with cots, pads, Coleman cook stove, saw, axes, dry wood, cooking, and cleaning supplies. I went during a snow storm and didn't have much visibility, but it was sure cozy next to the fire. The larches on the drive up to the lookout were absolutely amazing!

The road is great heading up to the lookout & does get a little narrow towards the end. There is no service once you leave West Glacier till you are halfway into the hike. Once you get to the lookout, you'll have enough service to send text messages & load social media (Verizon & AT&T) if you stand close to the fireplace. I wasn't sure about the service at the lookout, so I checked in with my family from the Polebridge Mercantile, and they happily let me use their landline. Make sure to get a few huckleberry bear claws at the Mercantile!
The lookout was equipped with cots, pads, Coleman cook stove, saw, axes, dry wood, cooking, and cleaning supplies. I went during a snow storm and didn't have much visibility, but it was sure cozy next to the fire. The larches on the drive up to the lookout were absolutely amazing!

I have been trying to get a rental at a lookout tower for years. I have fought wildland fire with the forest service for 10 years and this is the first time I was able to make a reservation. It was 1 mile hike in under freezing conditions with lots of snow already on the ground. That wasn't going to stop me. What did stop me however was the fact when I got there, there was no firewood provided. That information was not relayed to me with my reservation details. You cant expect someone to pack in overnight gear & food AND pack firewood in 1 mile. When I got there I had to turn around and leave and didn't even get to spend the night.

I have been trying to get a rental at a lookout tower for years. I have fought wildland fire with the forest service for 10 years and this is the first time I was able to make a reservation. It was 1 mile hike in under freezing conditions with lots of snow already on the ground. That wasn't going to stop me. What did stop me however was the fact when I got there, there was no firewood provided. That information was not relayed to me with my reservation details. You cant expect someone to pack in overnight gear & food AND pack firewood in 1 mile. When I got there I had to turn around and leave and didn't even get to spend the night.