You're paying to be the tower host. You have zero privacy. You will be greeting people, and your belongings and space will be their space. People start rolling in as early as 7 am and don't let up until 9 pm, from surly locals, ossified retirees, CDT hikers, and everyone in between. No need for an alarm clock, if the footsteps of plucky hikers upon the planks don't wake you up, the sound of straight-piped UVTs driving up in droves will. It is a gorgeous area to explore, the tower has breathtaking views. But to rent this with the impression that you are in a cabin atop a tower is just not accurate.

You're paying to be the tower host. You have zero privacy. You will be greeting people, and your belongings and space will be their space. People start rolling in as early as 7 am and don't let up until 9 pm, from surly locals, ossified retirees, CDT hikers, and everyone in between. No need for an alarm clock, if the footsteps of plucky hikers upon the planks don't wake you up, the sound of straight-piped UVTs driving up in droves will. It is a gorgeous area to explore, the tower has breathtaking views. But to rent this with the impression that you are in a cabin atop a tower is just not accurate.

We had a great time watching a thunderstorm roll in. The views are beautiful and you can explore in all directions. Only downside is way too many visitors. Do not have any expectation of privacy, even in the slightest. There are people coming up the lookout constantly. It is very popular! So, if you love company, this is the place for you!

We had a great time watching a thunderstorm roll in. The views are beautiful and you can explore in all directions. Only downside is way too many visitors. Do not have any expectation of privacy, even in the slightest. There are people coming up the lookout constantly. It is very popular! So, if you love company, this is the place for you!

In Sum: Quiet, Mostly Private, and a Great Time! Despite 3 days of near constant rain, cloud cover so dense you couldn't see 2 feet in front of you, and the occasional wind gust, we had a great time and stayed warm in the cabin! Ample firewood was available though the splitting maul in the cabin was pretty well dulled with rolls and chips in some spots. (If you're driving up, consider bringing your own!) No wildlife but plenty of recent elk sign near the mines. I'm certain they just held out on us due to the weather. From reading other reviews, privacy seems to be hit or miss. We only had one visitor on the very first day. He rode up on a motorcycle, talked to my spouse for a few minutes, and then made his way back down the mountain, then no other visitors in the remaining 2 days - and our stay took place over the weekend. The road up near the top when you get out of the trees was decently steep and rough. I wouldn't take a sedan up there, but I don't think you need a lifted pick up to make the drive either. We did some exploring in the area and especially enjoyed the two antique stores available for browsing. One, Rusty Relics, and the other a hidden gem found by following the posted signs on the main road back in a more residential area. We checked out Aunt Molly's WMA and Brown's Lake as well and will be back to visit both again! Things to Note: • 2 battery operated lanterns were available, 4 D batteries are needed for each. There were two smaller lanterns also available which required AA batteries. • One of the available descriptions of the cabin listed fire rings/pits and a picnic table. These things are not available. The only things currently outside the cabin are the firewood stack and the "beacon". • Leaving the cabin clean and organized leaves the experience enjoyable for those who come after you - no one wants to check in to a chaotic cabin. :)

In Sum: Quiet, Mostly Private, and a Great Time! Despite 3 days of near constant rain, cloud cover so dense you couldn't see 2 feet in front of you, and the occasional wind gust, we had a great time and stayed warm in the cabin! Ample firewood was available though the splitting maul in the cabin was pretty well dulled with rolls and chips in some spots. (If you're driving up, consider bringing your own!) No wildlife but plenty of recent elk sign near the mines. I'm certain they just held out on us due to the weather. From reading other reviews, privacy seems to be hit or miss. We only had one visitor on the very first day. He rode up on a motorcycle, talked to my spouse for a few minutes, and then made his way back down the mountain, then no other visitors in the remaining 2 days - and our stay took place over the weekend. The road up near the top when you get out of the trees was decently steep and rough. I wouldn't take a sedan up there, but I don't think you need a lifted pick up to make the drive either. We did some exploring in the area and especially enjoyed the two antique stores available for browsing. One, Rusty Relics, and the other a hidden gem found by following the posted signs on the main road back in a more residential area. We checked out Aunt Molly's WMA and Brown's Lake as well and will be back to visit both again! Things to Note: • 2 battery operated lanterns were available, 4 D batteries are needed for each. There were two smaller lanterns also available which required AA batteries. • One of the available descriptions of the cabin listed fire rings/pits and a picnic table. These things are not available. The only things currently outside the cabin are the firewood stack and the "beacon". • Leaving the cabin clean and organized leaves the experience enjoyable for those who come after you - no one wants to check in to a chaotic cabin. :)

I went up to get my last little taste of winter. The snow conditions were poor for cross country skiing, slushy on top and quickly deteriorating. I took the Marsh Cr Rd to the trailhead turnoff, and then skinned up the CDT the rest of the way. I wouldn't recommend that last part, the snow was very soft and difficult to travel across. However, the other way up, the "green" route, didn't have snow on the top half mile. Beautiful sunny days the whole time I was there. I forgot sunscreen. Sun on snow burned me pretty good.

I went up to get my last little taste of winter. The snow conditions were poor for cross country skiing, slushy on top and quickly deteriorating. I took the Marsh Cr Rd to the trailhead turnoff, and then skinned up the CDT the rest of the way. I wouldn't recommend that last part, the snow was very soft and difficult to travel across. However, the other way up, the "green" route, didn't have snow on the top half mile. Beautiful sunny days the whole time I was there. I forgot sunscreen. Sun on snow burned me pretty good.

The lookout tower was great! We didn’t experience much of the wind that the other reviewers noted. There is one bed and one working cot; there is a third cot in the tower, however, it is damaged/unusable. The trek in/out felt like the longest 4 miles of my life, we took the road in (via ski) and then the CDT out. I appreciated the novelty of being on the CDT, but it was definitely the hillier option. My friends who had on xcountry skis had a rougher go of it than me, on backcountry/touring skis. I appreciated the wider ski as we had to break trail the entire way. So, recommend that or snow shoes for others heading up there. Saw some cat tracks/scat, but no wildlife otherwise. Views were gorgeous, stars were incredible, highly recommend staying here.

The lookout tower was great! We didn’t experience much of the wind that the other reviewers noted. There is one bed and one working cot; there is a third cot in the tower, however, it is damaged/unusable. The trek in/out felt like the longest 4 miles of my life, we took the road in (via ski) and then the CDT out. I appreciated the novelty of being on the CDT, but it was definitely the hillier option. My friends who had on xcountry skis had a rougher go of it than me, on backcountry/touring skis. I appreciated the wider ski as we had to break trail the entire way. So, recommend that or snow shoes for others heading up there. Saw some cat tracks/scat, but no wildlife otherwise. Views were gorgeous, stars were incredible, highly recommend staying here.