It had been a while since we’d devoted an entire weekend to hitting as many lookout sites as possible. When our original plans fell through, Cat came up with the brilliant idea of a “Lookout Weekend.” Exploring the woods, hunting down lookout remnants, and camping out—what more could I ask for? I was all in.
We compiled a list of sites in the Coeur d’Alene Mountains we’d yet to document. It’s easy to get wrapped up in bigger trips and overlook the treasures in our own backyard. This weekend, we aimed to change that.
Saturday: Off to a Strong Start
By Saturday morning, the rig was loaded, tanks were full, and we had our favorite energy drinks in hand. First up: Eighty Peak and Idaho Point—both spots that had eluded us in the past due to massive blowdowns and snow. This time, we were determined to conquer them.
Fueled by caffeine and excitement after a couple of hours on the road, we wheeled up the rocky peak. The views from the top didn’t disappoint. While Eighty Peak only had a few remnants left and now functions as an active electronics site, the view included a bonus—stunning sights of Gem Peak Lookout in Montana. Idaho Point, with its rocky and remote feel, offered more remnants and a sense of history we hadn’t expected.
On the way out, we spotted a SxS near Ulm Peak, with two guys pointing towards a distant ridge. They had spotted smoke. Prescribed burns are underway in the area, but this one wasn’t on any of the lists we’d seen. Better safe than sorry—we called it in. Reporting a fire while chasing lookouts makes me feel more connected to the lookout and fire-watching world.
Riding the Highs
Feeling pumped after our finds and fire report, we headed north to Divide Peak. There are remnants there, but one of my favorite things is actually the benchmark since it shows that you are right on the Idaho-Montana line. Next, we tackled Elk Ridge. After some “custom pinstriping” on the rig thanks to thick brush, we hiked the rest of the way. Funny enough, the worst was already behind us, but the walk was worth it. More tie-downs and remnants greeted us at the top, adding to the day’s successes.
By this point, we had visited four sites, and all four had something to show. Feeling good, we made a supply run to Clark Fork—plus, I needed a new pair of sunglasses (I can’t seem to keep a pair for more than a few weeks). They are probably mine if you ever find a random pair at an old lookout site.
As the sun raced towards the horizon, we hurried to find a campsite. With all the hunters around, I was worried we’d be out of luck, but we snagged a great spot just in time.
Sunday: The Ups and Downs
Sunday morning, we broke camp, knowing we couldn’t expect another perfect streak of finds. But we stayed optimistic, hoping the day’s good vibes would carry us through. Unfortunately, our first stop—Spruce Divide—was a bust. Almost nothing remained, and there were certainly no signs of the old crow’s nest. It was a bit of a downer, but at least we got some exercise hiking up the hill.
Next, we headed to Faset Peak. Seeing another vehicle, a fire ring, and a large electronics station was a little discouraging, but this site surprised us. We found the footings of multiple towers and what appeared to be remnants of the original ground cabin, or as some would call them “Ruins ruins”.
Our next stop was Bernard Peak, which had been on our list for ages. One of the first stories shared with us after starting Idaho Fire Lookouts was from a Bernard Peak Lookout named Chad. Despite the site’s popularity as a modern camping spot, we found plenty of history—text carved into concrete dating back in ways that didn’t align with our information, adding a bit of mystery to the day.
Venturing Deeper
The weekend was turning out great, but we needed to escape the crowds. With ATVs, SxS, sedans, and every other vehicle imaginable showing up, it was feeling a bit too busy for us. So, we backtracked and set our sights on Honey Mountain, hoping for a “honeypot” of finds. Sadly, it didn’t live up to its name. Nothing remained, but at least it wasn’t too far out of the way.
We made more miles down long and dusty roads and were reminded just how sketchy those narrow, single-lane forest roads can be when we had to pass another full-size rig that left my rig sideways on the mountainside of the road. He cautiously inched past the cliff, with his tires ever so slightly overhanging the cliff.
Wrapping Up with a Win
Our final destination of the weekend was Hamilton Mountain. After bushwhacking up a steeper-than-expected ridge, we were rewarded with the remnants of a patrol tower, complete with concrete footings—some even engraved, which was a nice bonus.
But we weren’t done yet. A half-mile hike led us to the north peak, where a cupola cabin once stood. The trail was challenging, with so many fallen trees that we spent more time scrambling over logs than hiking. But halfway through, the terrain smoothed out, and we followed an old, barely visible trail to the top. There wasn’t much left, but we did find a benchmark and an old wooden post. It wasn’t the biggest find, but it was a solid way to end the adventure.
After hopping over more logs and hiking back to the truck, we had a long, reflective 2.5-hour drive out of the woods. As we followed the river, one of our final sights was Little Guard Lookout perched high above, watching over us.
All in all, we hit nine sites and had seven solid finds. It’s taking time to document everything, even the spots right in our backyard, but the progress feels good.
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