A beautiful hike to the site of an abandoned lookout location
I've had a love affair with history and exploring new places since childhood - cue the Johnny Quest theme music. I am especially fascinated by mining and logging history of the American West - but more specifically the people that created and shaped that history. Life would be perfect if every second was spent with dirt under my boots (or tires) and a dog at my side.
A beautiful hike to the site of an abandoned lookout location
Not much left at this location that had quite a bit of activity in its past.
Owen left a legacy of beautiful and historically significant photography. Some of which are the only known images to exist of certain lookout towers.
About 75 fire lookout enthusiasts came out for our talk and slideshow at the Coeur d’Alene Library in April 2025 hosted by the Museum of North Idaho. After our half hour talk we had an open chat with the attendees and WOW! The combined experience in the room was incredible! Past lookout staffers, people with family history and amazing stories about our local...
Mike Ward staffed Bertha Hill Lookout in the 1970s and has some great memories and photographs from his time there.
This long gone tower is set in a beautiful spot in the Clearwater.
A Mike Chaffee Favorite! This staffed lookout has one of the best views in the Clearwater!
A tower destroyed in the 1970s but this site is full of artifacts
We were able to find the cement footings and one support beam from what we believe to be the 1931 L-4 tower as well as lots of debris from what we believe was the log cabin.
1922: Patrol Platform built here for use from Fishhook Peak Lookout