Trestle Peak Lookout

Hike-In	Removed
Elevation: 6320′	Kaniksu National Forest

History

From Stan Myers and the Bonner Count Museum: “Trestle Peak was actually built sometimes between 1910-1914 – its on the 1914 maps. It was the first lookout built in the Cabinets. The Bonner County historical society has letters written by the lookout, Tom Burleigh, who was stationed there in 1917. Burleigh was from Pennsylvania, went on to serve in WWI and then get a degree in wildlife biology. Became a USFWS bird expert. He wrote a comprehensive bird book for Idaho while at Moscow. The lookout had telephone lines to two early ranger stations – one in Trestle Creek and one in upper Lightning. Both are still on the ground. Burleigh reported several fires on his first day in July 1917 and was complimented by the Ranger from CF.”

1921 – Cabin with roof platform, Staffed by Stidwell (*Fire Lookouts of the Northwest)

The cabin was removed but we are unsure of when.

In the above photo (on the right ) are Oliver Ruen and Tillie Ruen. To thier left are Tillie’s sister and brother in law.

In the photo below is Tom D Burleigh.

In 1917 Tom D. Burleigh was only 22 years old when he staffed Trestle Peak Lookout in North Idaho. (Photo from his later years)

Luckily for us – he wrote letters to his friends and family that are preserved at the Bonner County Museum in Sandpoint, Idaho. They are a fun and educational glimpse into his life and that time! I would love to have known him.

Here is an excerpt:

“Yesterday was uneventful until after I had gone to bed. When I had an unexpected and not altogether be be desired concert. It was full moon and almost as light as day time outside, and this evidently afflicted the fauna about me for the night was full of strange noises. I had just about gotten to sleep though when a wolf howled outside and then the harmony began. The howl of a wolf is anything but cheerful, and when there are two or three of these animals grouped around your cabin it causes unpleasant sensations at first. There were four stages to my emotions as I lay listening. First- I’ll admit I longed for the proximity of mankind, then I became interested in the varied rendering of the chorus; then I became indifferent, and finally annoyed, because it was impossible to get to sleep. When I reached that state of mind, I tried a little howling of my own account, trying to see how well I could imitate the moans and sobs of the rising and falling discord outside, and I was quite successful. From the sudden quiet I believe the wolves started at once for the next county, they probably realized on hearing me, that their singing was not all it should be. Or perhaps my attempt shamed their efforts. At any rate I was soon asleep.”

Tom went on to become a wildlife specialist and wrote & published a book on the birds of Idaho. menu

OUR NOTES

We have visited Trestle Peak twice now – the first time in 2019 and then again in 2026. A fire changed the landscape from our first hike in but the views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Cabinets remained spectacular. There are quite a few ruins and pieces of debris that help tell the story of Trestle Peak lookout – each one another glimpse into what life might have been like here back in the early 1900s.

There were two rock dugouts – likely used for snow “storage” as the nearest water source was quite a hike away (and too keep food cold). Also found lots of debris around the site. Lots of wire, nails, pieces of glass, metal and tin, as well as a few can lids like this Baking Soda lid.

Trestle Peak is fairly popular hiking trail that offers easy to moderate trail difficulty combined with spectacular views. We loved exploring the site and finding so much history still left behind to tell the story of the tower and its lookouts! Another day of #nonsuckage