Staying here is a treat. Even though we were experiencing 50-60 mile winds, the lookout was comfy. It was a delightful adventure. Our only low is that we could not get it more than 1 night!!!

Staying here is a treat. Even though we were experiencing 50-60 mile winds, the lookout was comfy. It was a delightful adventure. Our only low is that we could not get it more than 1 night!!!

If you're planning on skinning or hiking to the fire lookout in the winter you might want to plan on taking the ATV route and giving yourself 6 hours to get there. We were breaking trail for about 3 miles and with a pack (probably too heavy) this destroyed my legs. I'm an ultra runner and have run this trail many times with a 10-15lb pack in the summer but with over a foot of fresh snow, snowshoes on and a 40lb pack we barely made it. A friend that skinned the same trail a week prior said absolutely do not pull a sled with your gear and I completely understand why. The trail is much more narrow in the winter and even with waist deep powder in the open fields some of the trail through the forest was nothing but rocks and dirt. We avoided the ATV route because it's 4 miles longer but I'm guessing it would be much easier. It was a beautiful day and I'm using the experience as a lesson in backcountry travel. I'll probably run the trail in the winter with a very light pack for a redemption mission.

If you're planning on skinning or hiking to the fire lookout in the winter you might want to plan on taking the ATV route and giving yourself 6 hours to get there. We were breaking trail for about 3 miles and with a pack (probably too heavy) this destroyed my legs. I'm an ultra runner and have run this trail many times with a 10-15lb pack in the summer but with over a foot of fresh snow, snowshoes on and a 40lb pack we barely made it. A friend that skinned the same trail a week prior said absolutely do not pull a sled with your gear and I completely understand why. The trail is much more narrow in the winter and even with waist deep powder in the open fields some of the trail through the forest was nothing but rocks and dirt. We avoided the ATV route because it's 4 miles longer but I'm guessing it would be much easier. It was a beautiful day and I'm using the experience as a lesson in backcountry travel. I'll probably run the trail in the winter with a very light pack for a redemption mission.

If you're planning on skinning or hiking to the fire lookout in the winter you might want to plan on taking the ATV route and giving yourself 6 hours to get there. We were breaking trail for about 3 miles and with a pack (probably too heavy) this destroyed my legs. I'm an ultra runner and have run this trail many times with a 10-15lb pack in the summer but with over a foot of fresh snow, snowshoes on and a 40lb pack we barely made it. A friend that skinned the same trail a week prior said absolutely do not pull a sled with your gear and I completely understand why. The trail is much more narrow in the winter and even with waist deep powder in the open fields some of the trail through the forest was nothing but rocks and dirt. We avoided the ATV route because it's 4 miles longer but I'm guessing it would be much easier. It was a beautiful day and I'm using the experience as a lesson in backcountry travel. I'll probably run the trail in the winter with a very light pack for a redemption mission.

Lovely place

Lovely place

Lovely place

Excellent experience. The setting is unbelievable. Typical amenities for a cabin/lookout managed by the USFS, I've stayed in many and the fact that this site is maintained respectfully and available in the winter made it the best stay I've ever had in a recreation.gov site.

Great cabin. Plenty of wood