Big Hole Lookout
The Big Hole Lookout offers guests an opportunity to experience an old-time Forest Service lookout. The tower commands an impressive 360 degree view of valleys and mountain ranges for miles and miles. The structure is small and is not elevated like many other lookouts, and is available for rent from June to early October each year.
View the site through the interactive map.
Big Hole Lookout
Photo of the Big Hole Lookout in the summertime on the Lolo National Forest, Montana.
Reservations
Reservations Required through Recreation.gov.
General Information
Big Hole Lookout was built in 1930 for what was originally called the Cabinet National Forest. It is a ‘Grange Hall’ type lookout: a structure built atop a short talus foundation. This type of lookout predates the standard design seen in most other areas, and due to the difficulty in its construction, is quite rare. In fact, Big Hole Lookout is one of only two lookouts of its kind on the Lolo that remain intact! It saw its last use as a fire lookout in 1972, and although afterward abandoned, was determined eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic places (NRHP) in 1984. It has been rehabilitated through a series of Passport in Time volunteer projects which finished in 2017.
Available for rent from June to early October each year.
Please visit the Forest's Alerts page for information on restrictions, in particular please review the Food/Wildlife Attractant Storage Order to help reduce the likelihood of human-to-bear conflicts.
Overnight Use:
$45 per night
Pets are not allowed in the Lookout.
Address: 408 Clayton Plains, MT 59859
Phone: 406-826-3821
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 47.60385587
Longitude: -115.07021483
Elevation
6,922 feet (2,110 m)
Directions
From Plains, Montana travel northwest on Highway 200 for approximately 7.5 miles to Weeksville Creek Road (FR 887). From Thompson Falls, Montana travel southeast on Highway 200 for approximately 17.5 miles to Weeksville Creek Road (FR 887). Turn north onto Weeksville Creek Road (FR 887) and travel approximately 3 miles to Big Hole Road (FR 5587) and turn left. Travel the Big Hole Road for approximately 10 miles to the Big Hole Trailhead.
Parking
Park at Bighole Trailhead in gravel pit. Hike 3 miles to the Lookout.
Facility and Amenity Information
Restrooms
Restrooms are not available at this site.
Water
Potable water is available at this site.
Water is available through spring and will need to be filtered. The spring is located 1/2 mile from the Lookout.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are not available at this site.
Horse/Pack Animal Information
Horse/Pack animals are allowed at this site.
Corral at the trailhead and hitching post at the Lookout.
