Granite Butte Lookout

This is a great service at a reasonable price from the USFS. You can’t beat the views and would be hard pressed to find a more remote location.

I never made it to the lookout.

Google maps took me on the back road to the lookout (Gould Creek Road) and the road was so steep and overgrown that it scratched up my husband's new truck and I had to turn around. Don't take Gould Creek Road!

Later on, I found out there was a preferred route - Stemple Pass Trailhead. I called the Ranger station beforehand and asked if there was any insights or suggestions, and they didn't say a preferred or alternative route, so I assumed that Google maps was accurate. The confirmation email stated that it was steep which is why I brought my husband's truck instead of my sedan.

I'm an untested rough road driver, between my lack of experience and the awful road, I ended up in a repair shop instead of the Granite Peak Lookout.

I never made it to the lookout.

Google maps took me on the back road to the lookout (Gould Creek Road) and the road was so steep and overgrown that it scratched up my husband's new truck and I had to turn around. Don't take Gould Creek Road!

Later on, I found out there was a preferred route - Stemple Pass Trailhead. I called the Ranger station beforehand and asked if there was any insights or suggestions, and they didn't say a preferred or alternative route, so I assumed that Google maps was accurate. The confirmation email stated that it was steep which is why I brought my husband's truck instead of my sedan.

I'm an untested rough road driver, between my lack of experience and the awful road, I ended up in a repair shop instead of the Granite Peak Lookout.

This was our first overnight XC ski trip and it was absolutely amazing! The road up to the trailhead was plowed and easier to navigate. We parked and started our trip there. It took us about 4 hours to make it up the 4.4 miles to the tower and we are not used to XC skis. We pulled two backpacks on a sled and it wasn't too bad. There was plenty of firewood and the tower was so freaking awesome. The shutters were easy to take off and put back on and the view without them was WAY better! We took propane for the Coleman stove provided but ended up using it for the propane heater which helped things get warmer before bed. The wood stove is great and gets things warmed up once it is really cooking. We melted snow for water. It was about 10-20 degrees outside the whole time. You won't get it up to 70 degrees inside but 50-60 degrees on top of a bald in Montana in the middle of winter is pretty great! We took battery operated lights and string lights which was good because the ones there had dead batteries. Since we are experienced backpackers and alpine skiers rather than XC, we decided to put the packs on our backs on the way down (rather than in the sled) and we found that to be much easier going. Our only regret is we didn't stay longer:)

This was our first overnight XC ski trip and it was absolutely amazing! The road up to the trailhead was plowed and easier to navigate. We parked and started our trip there. It took us about 4 hours to make it up the 4.4 miles to the tower and we are not used to XC skis. We pulled two backpacks on a sled and it wasn't too bad. There was plenty of firewood and the tower was so freaking awesome. The shutters were easy to take off and put back on and the view without them was WAY better! We took propane for the Coleman stove provided but ended up using it for the propane heater which helped things get warmer before bed. The wood stove is great and gets things warmed up once it is really cooking. We melted snow for water. It was about 10-20 degrees outside the whole time. You won't get it up to 70 degrees inside but 50-60 degrees on top of a bald in Montana in the middle of winter is pretty great! We took battery operated lights and string lights which was good because the ones there had dead batteries. Since we are experienced backpackers and alpine skiers rather than XC, we decided to put the packs on our backs on the way down (rather than in the sled) and we found that to be much easier going. Our only regret is we didn't stay longer:)

We’re recurring tenants of the beautiful Granite Butte facility. During our 2 night stay, the wind never stopped. I recommend visitors plan for very strong winds and consider yourself lucky if the wind stops for a while. BRING EARPLUGS (or even better, noise canceling earbuds) and anticipate light movement of the building even with moderate wind.
The facility is comfortable for two and feels increasingly smaller with more people. The views are amazing in every direction so bring binoculars.
For winter visits, the wood burning stove is a little small and requires a reload every 2 or 2 1/2 hours to maintain a reasonable temperature. There are numerous spots that allow drafts to cool the room faster than you might expect.
Thanks to the USFS for making this facility available at a reasonable cost - it’s a nice facility!
Embrace the wind and enjoy the experience!

We’re recurring tenants of the beautiful Granite Butte facility. During our 2 night stay, the wind never stopped. I recommend visitors plan for very strong winds and consider yourself lucky if the wind stops for a while. BRING EARPLUGS (or even better, noise canceling earbuds) and anticipate light movement of the building even with moderate wind.
The facility is comfortable for two and feels increasingly smaller with more people. The views are amazing in every direction so bring binoculars.
For winter visits, the wood burning stove is a little small and requires a reload every 2 or 2 1/2 hours to maintain a reasonable temperature. There are numerous spots that allow drafts to cool the room faster than you might expect.
Thanks to the USFS for making this facility available at a reasonable cost - it’s a nice facility!
Embrace the wind and enjoy the experience!

We and our mastiff really enjoyed Granite Butte Lookout! The weather was perfect and the views where awesome! Laying in the bed listening to the wind howl all night and waking up to a spectacular sunrise was the best. We will definitely come back, when we get a chance. I forgot our portable battery pack/jumper cable box there. Oh well. Maybe someone will get some use out of it . 🤘⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We and our mastiff really enjoyed Granite Butte Lookout! The weather was perfect and the views where awesome! Laying in the bed listening to the wind howl all night and waking up to a spectacular sunrise was the best. We will definitely come back, when we get a chance. I forgot our portable battery pack/jumper cable box there. Oh well. Maybe someone will get some use out of it . 🤘⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a great way to get out of Helena for a little while in November. About half way is the historic community of Marysville which has a great restaurant called Marysville House. As for the lookout itself, it is about a 4 mile hike from the Stemple Pass TH which mainly takes the CDT. It is a really pretty hike and I ended up snowshoeing because there was enough snow by then. There is a road too that leads all the way to the lookout tower as well which is a typical dirt bumpy Montana backroad. There is a restroom near by the lookout tower once you make it up there. The tower space can comfortably sleep 2 people but no more really. It was stocked with the typically gear of lamps, wood, ax etc. Keep in mind that I went in during the winter so wood was available, but not all places like this keeps wood stocked during the summer. Double check this before you go. You do need to haul in water since there is no water pump or natural water source up there. It was about 20 degrees outside during nighttime up there when I went and the small stove in the tower kept me pretty warm. Also, I had cell service while I was up in the tower and certain parts of the hike too. A couple of hunters were out and checked the tower while I was there. I kept note of the animal tracks I saw hiking. I saw deer, bunny, moose, and even mountain lion tracks on the 4 mile hike to the tower, so be mindful of your surroundings. Overall, a really fun place to stay and there is plenty of different trails around Stemple Pass to check out.