Lunch Peak Lookout
Closed for the season. The lookout operates from July through early October. Reservations are available through Recreation.gov. Maximum stay is 3 nights with a capacity of 4 people.
Fire Weather Watch issued July 22 at 2:12PM PDT until July 25 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY, FIRE WEATHER WATCHES FOR WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY... A ridge breakdown pattern will first bring an elevated threat for mountain thunderstorms across portions of central and north- central Washington tonight into Thursday night. Drier weather arrives Friday and Saturday, though winds will become increasingly gusty with critical fire weather conditions likely. The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Fire Weather Watch for winds and low humidity, which is in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening. * Affected Area: Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101), Selkirk Mountains of Northeast Washington (Zone 700), Foothills of Northeast Washington (Zone 701), Eastern Columbia Basin -Palouse -Spokane Area (Zone 708) and Lower Palouse - Snake River (Zone 709). * Winds: Southwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * Timing: Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon * Relative Humidities: 15 to 25 percent across the lower elevations, with 23 to 35 percent at the higher elevations. * Temperatures: Up to 93. * Impacts: Gusty winds and low humidity Saturday afternoon may lead to rapid fire spread with any new or ongoing fires.
Heat Advisory issued July 22 at 10:48PM PDT until July 23 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
* WHAT...Hot temperatures with daytime highs in the mid 90s to low 100s Thursday. This will pose a moderate to major risk of heat-related illness. * WHERE...Portions of North and North Central Idaho and Central, East Central, North Central, Northeast, and Southeast Washington. * WHEN...Until 9 PM PDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Limited overnight relief expected across the lower elevations Thursday morning with low temperatures in the mid 60s to mid 70s.
About
Lunch Peak Lookout sits at 6,414 feet in the Cabinet Mountains, 35 miles northeast of Sandpoint, Idaho. The historic fire lookout was remodeled in 2002 and sits atop a high cinder block foundation, providing unobstructed 360-degree views of Cabinet Mountain Wilderness, the Selkirk Mountains, and Lake Pend Oreille below. The 15x15 cabin includes a sleeping platform, table, and storage cabinet. This is a true backcountry experience. There is no potable water, heat, electricity, or cooking facilities. Guests must bring all water, food, sleeping gear, and lighting. A vault toilet is located 300 feet away at the Pend Oreille Divide Trailhead. All trash must be packed out, and food must be stored properly due to active bear habitat. Campfires and charcoal grills are not permitted at the lookout itself, though a fire ring is available below. The Pend Oreille Divide Trail #67 begins just below the lookout, following ridgelines with excellent views and providing access to several high mountain lakes within 3-5 miles. A popular day hike is the 8-mile roundtrip to Mt. Pend Oreille. The final 4 miles of the access road via Forest Road 1091 is rough, and high-clearance vehicles are recommended.
Directions
From Sandpoint, take Highway 200 east 12 miles to Trestle Creek Road. Turn left onto Trestle Creek Road #275 and continue 12 miles to Lunch Peak Road #1091. Turn left onto Road 1091 and drive 4 miles to the lookout. High-clearance vehicle recommended for the final 4 miles.
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | No |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | No |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $35 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (208) 263-5111 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!