Drive-Up | Rental Program |
Elevation: 6659′ | Clearwater National Forest |
History
Castle Butte Lookout offers breathtaking, 360-degree views of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, the Seven Devils Mountains, the Great Burn area and the deep canyons of the North Fork Clearwater River’s upper drainages.
In 1916 the first log frame lookout cabin was built
In 1928 a log cabin featuring a cupola was built.
In 1950 the current L-4 cabin on a 10′ concrete base was built.
This lookout is currently on the Rental Program
Some historical photographs of Castle Butte can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/NPClwNFs/posts/evolution-of-a-lookout-castle-buttepart-2in-1929-harry-chenoweth-and-earnest-har/4750461178312520/
Our Notes:
Access to the lookout is via the Lolo Motorway, a primitive, single-lane road constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s. Some call this road challenging – we called this road FUN! Make sure you have a high clearance vehicle – although if you dont mind a ding on your undercarriage a time or two its not mandatory (thats what she said).
If you’re collecting the IDAHO FIRE LOOKOUT STICKERS then you’ll have to add Castle Butte Lookout to your collection. You can grab one at https://idaholookouts.etsy.com/listing/1716042359/castle-butte-lookout-vinyl-decals
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