About Mt. Baldy-buckhorn Ridge
Number of accommodations: 1
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
Site Details
Reviews (44)
What Guests Are Saying
The Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge lookout offers a unique experience with beautiful wildlife sightings and stunning views, particularly during sunsets and aurora events. Many guests appreciate the lookout's charm and the opportunity for solitude, despite some challenges like heavy winds and a need for maintenance. However, issues such as cleanliness, heavy trapdoor access, and uninvited visitors have been noted, suggesting improvements could enhance the overall experience.
What Guests Are Saying
The Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge lookout offers a unique experience with beautiful wildlife sightings and stunning views, particularly during sunsets and aurora events. Many guests appreciate the lookout's charm and the opportunity for solitude, despite some challenges like heavy winds and a need for maintenance. However, issues such as cleanliness, heavy trapdoor access, and uninvited visitors have been noted, suggesting improvements could enhance the overall experience.
Review Summary
Jon E
VerifiedAugust 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
Great tower visit. Road up can get rough, several miles of dirt road with moderately uneven surface. Large rocks embedded in packed dirt, rocks might protrude 3 inches up through dirt. Imagine a rough cobblestone road with extra cobbles. High clearance recommended though you could manage it in a car if you know how to pick a line over rough spots. Please make note, road numbers change on directions from USFS, however, there are few signs to indicate when the road numbers swap in the last few miles. Just in general follow the main switchbacks up and you are fine. Narrow road, watch for others and make room where you can when passing by folks.
Cookstove in the cabin works great, read all the signs in the cabin for the best information.
Note on cell service. There is a tower in Idaho that you can catch, but please note that tower is on Pacific Timezone and your phone's clock will bounce back 1 hour. Suggested have a clock that isn't tied to a phone if you are really worried about the time for check in/out.
Expect wind, but amazing views. Can see clearly into Canada and clear up to Crowsnest Pass, Glacier NP, and across the entire Panhandle into peaks in Washington. Tower is at 6500+ ft so be prepared for elevation if you are not used to it. Thank you Three Rivers fire crew for leaving it clean for us!
Jon E
VerifiedAugust 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
Great tower visit. Road up can get rough, several miles of dirt road with moderately uneven surface. Large rocks embedded in packed dirt, rocks might protrude 3 inches up through dirt. Imagine a rough cobblestone road with extra cobbles. High clearance recommended though you could manage it in a car if you know how to pick a line over rough spots. Please make note, road numbers change on directions from USFS, however, there are few signs to indicate when the road numbers swap in the last few miles. Just in general follow the main switchbacks up and you are fine. Narrow road, watch for others and make room where you can when passing by folks.
Cookstove in the cabin works great, read all the signs in the cabin for the best information.
Note on cell service. There is a tower in Idaho that you can catch, but please note that tower is on Pacific Timezone and your phone's clock will bounce back 1 hour. Suggested have a clock that isn't tied to a phone if you are really worried about the time for check in/out.
Expect wind, but amazing views. Can see clearly into Canada and clear up to Crowsnest Pass, Glacier NP, and across the entire Panhandle into peaks in Washington. Tower is at 6500+ ft so be prepared for elevation if you are not used to it. Thank you Three Rivers fire crew for leaving it clean for us!
Helen D
VerifiedAugust 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
The space was beautiful and very clean. They've done an excellent job making the space inviting and have added extra touches (e.g. a table cloth, chairs for inside and outside, NFS coloring books and crayons set up for children who visit the space). We will definitely go back!
Helen D
VerifiedAugust 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
The space was beautiful and very clean. They've done an excellent job making the space inviting and have added extra touches (e.g. a table cloth, chairs for inside and outside, NFS coloring books and crayons set up for children who visit the space). We will definitely go back!
Ryan O
VerifiedJuly 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
We spent 2+ hours trying to find the lookout. There were no accurate road numbers to follow the instructions to the lookout. Some of the roads we traveled were barely safe to travel, others just dead-ended. Maybe if I had found accurate road maps, it would have been possible, but the local NP stations were not open.
Ryan O
VerifiedJuly 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
We spent 2+ hours trying to find the lookout. There were no accurate road numbers to follow the instructions to the lookout. Some of the roads we traveled were barely safe to travel, others just dead-ended. Maybe if I had found accurate road maps, it would have been possible, but the local NP stations were not open.
Sloan S
VerifiedJuly 21, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
Awesome tower, very clean and well equipped with some new propane appliances. Tons of deer and wildlife wandering around and so so quiet. The Kootenai rangers do an awesome job taking care of their lookouts and this one is no exception.
Sloan S
VerifiedJuly 21, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
Awesome tower, very clean and well equipped with some new propane appliances. Tons of deer and wildlife wandering around and so so quiet. The Kootenai rangers do an awesome job taking care of their lookouts and this one is no exception.
Reuben S
VerifiedJuly 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
Great place to stay and watch the beautiful views, both day and night!
Couldn't get the pilot to light for the heater, but other than that it was a fun place to stay!
Reuben S
VerifiedJuly 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: MT. BALDY-BUCKHORN RIDGE
Great place to stay and watch the beautiful views, both day and night!
Couldn't get the pilot to light for the heater, but other than that it was a fun place to stay!
Location Mt. Baldy-buckhorn Ridge
Address:
Three Rivers Rd 12858 Us Hwy. 2
Troy, MT, 59935-8750
United States
From Troy Montana, follow Highway 2 West for 9.5 miles to Yaak Highway 508. Follow Yaak Highway 508 for 18 miles north to Meadow Creek Road 524. Follow Road 524 1 mile to junction with Road 745. Take road 745 approximately 4 miles to Baldy Mountain Lookout Road 591. Follow 591 for approximately 2 miles to Road 5954. Take Road 5954 to the lookout.
Latitude & Longitude: 48.8361 / -115.929
Elevation: 1881 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
