Cinnamon Lookout

Open — This is an unused fire lookout tower that serves as a hiking destination, not a rentable facility or campground. The lookout is accessible via hiking trails during summer and fall months when snow conditions permit.

About

Cinnamon Lookout sits atop 9,231-foot Cinnamon Mountain in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, providing panoramic views of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Built by the U.S. Forest Service in 1958, this historic fire lookout is no longer in active use but remains a popular hiking destination for its stunning vistas of the Madison and Gallatin ranges. The lookout is accessed via Trails #6 and #73 from the Cinnamon Mountain Trailhead, located off Forest Service Road 248 opposite the Cinnamon Lodge in Gallatin Canyon, approximately 10-13 miles south of Big Sky on Highway 191. The hike passes through stands of pines and small meadows before reaching the summit. This is a day-use hiking destination rather than a rentable facility or developed campground. The lookout tower itself is not available for overnight stays or reservations. Hikers enjoy relative solitude in this drainage north of the Taylor Fork Area, with opportunities for wildlife viewing and scenic photography in the heart of southwest Montana's backcountry.

Directions

From Big Sky, drive 10-13 miles south on Highway 191. Turn west onto Forest Service Road 248 opposite Cinnamon Lodge. Access the lookout via Trails #6 and #73 from Cinnamon Mountain Trailhead.

Nearby Campgrounds