Medicine Point Lookout
Closed for the season. Opens in July and operates through September. Reservations available via Recreation.gov. Contact the Darby-Sula Ranger District at least one week before arrival to obtain the door combination code.
Air Quality Alert issued August 9 at 8:15AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
AQAMT The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert for Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow counties in effect until 9AM on 08/10/2026 An Air Quality Alert means that particulates have been trending upwards and that an exceedance of the 24 hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) has occurred or may occur in the near future. Elevated particulate levels from wildfire smoke As of 7AM on 08/09/2026, particulate levels in Columbia Falls are Very Unhealthy. As of 7AM on 08/09/2026, particulate levels in Dillon, Libby and Thompson Falls are Unhealthy. As of 7AM on 08/09/2026, particulate levels in Billings, Butte, Hamilton, Lewistown and Sleeping Giant are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. As of 7AM on 08/09/2026, particulate levels in Cut Bank, Frenchtown, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Malta and Missoula are Moderate. When air quality is Very Unhealthy... State and local health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid any outdoor activity; everyone else should avoid prolonged exertion. When air quality is Unhealthy... State and local health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should limit prolonged exertion. When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups... State and local health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion. When air quality is Moderate... State and local health officials recommend that unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. For more information visit the Montana Department of Environmental Quality at http://todaysair.mtdeq.us
Northern Region Camping & Target Restrictions, Pallet Prohibition
This order defines the maximum length of occupation at a single location or cumulatively at any number of locations within a calendar year, within the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho
Weed Free Forage & Mulch Products Order for the Northern Region
It is illegal to possess, store or transport straw, hay, grain, seed or other forage or mulch products on Forest Service lands without documentation that the product is certified as “weed free” by a state certification process that meets or exceeds the North American Weed Free Forage standards.
About
Medicine Point Lookout is a historic L4 fire lookout tower that has been carefully restored to reflect the look and feel of a 1940s-era lookout station. Perched at 8,409 feet elevation on Medicine Point west of Sula, Montana, the tower offers spectacular 360-degree views of the Bitterroot Mountains, including Trapper Peak, the highest point in the Bitterroot Range. On clear nights, the lights of Hamilton are visible to the east. The single-room cabin measures 14x14 feet with a 30-inch catwalk around the outside, sitting atop a 10-foot tower. A bed platform accommodates two people, with floor space for two additional guests. The lookout is equipped with a woodstove for heat, a two-burner propane camp stove, Coleman lantern, and basic cooking utensils. Guests must bring their own water, propane canisters, bedding, toilet paper, and garbage bags. Access requires a challenging 4-mile hike from the Medicine Point Trailhead, gaining approximately 2,000 feet of elevation on a trail rated difficult due to steep sections. An extensive trail system in the area offers opportunities for hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding, with hitching rails available at the base of the tower for equestrian visitors.
Directions
From Sula, MT, head northwest 5 miles on Highway 93. Turn west (left) onto Laird Creek Road (Forest Road 370) and continue approximately 4 miles to Bear Creek Saddle. At Bear Creek Saddle, turn north onto Forest Road 5731 and drive approximately 2 miles to the Medicine Point Trailhead. The hike to the lookout is approximately 4 miles on a difficult trail with steep sections.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | — |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $30 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (406) 821-3913 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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