Salmon Mountain Lookout

Hike-In	Staffed
Elevation: 8943′	Bitterroot National Forest

History

Salmon Mountain Lookout was first just a tent in 1920.
1928 – Log cupola lookout was built.
1949 – L-4 cab lookout was built.

Salmon Mountain Lookout was unmanned for a number of years through the early 1980s, but continues to be staffed today during fire season.

Known Staff

1943

Marion Carruthers (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1946

Mr. & Mrs. Donald Sales (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1956

Leroy Brooks (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1957

John Blank (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1958

Robert Cushing (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1959

David Hope (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1961

George Moore (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1962

Robert May (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1963

Dan Rothlisberger (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1964

David Novitzki (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1965

Ted White (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1967

Charles Parnell (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1968

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Gustafson (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1969

Ronald Schierer (Forest Fire Lookout Page)
1971

Charles Boggs (Forest Fire Lookout Page)

William Boggs
1972–1975

William Boggs
1983

Linda Ambelang — Last Paid Lookout

Know more about who staffed this tower, or when? Let us know.

Our Notes:

We visited Salmon Mountain Lookout in the fall of 2020. That fall was socked in quite thick with wildfire smoke, but we nailed our visit on the perfect clear day. A volunteer lookout was manning the helm along with her trusty pup. It was talking with her that Billy and I really started to ponder joining the volunteer lookout program!

The hike in to Salmon Mountain was relatively easy and short – plus the views were fantastic, even when you could see that wildfire smoke hovering on the horizon, ready to pour in.