Star Peak Lookout

Open — The lookout is accessible via hiking trail year-round, though winter conditions make access extremely difficult. This is an active fire lookout tower and is not available for public rental or overnight use.

About

Star Peak Lookout holds a special place in Montana history as the site of the state's first recorded fire lookout, established in 1907 when a forest ranger camped in a tent below the summit. A stone cabin was constructed in 1910 and still stands today, while the current L-4 lookout tower on a stone base was built in 1952 and remains the only active lookout on the Cabinet Ranger District. The challenging hike to Star Peak Lookout covers 8.9 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 3,927 feet, earning its difficult rating. The trail follows forested switchbacks and open slopes with steady climbing nearly the entire way, ascending from the Clark Fork River valley into the Cabinet Mountains. Hikers who complete the arduous climb are rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the Scotchman Peaks, Cabinet Mountain Wilderness, and the Clark Fork Valley. The lookout sits at the top of Star Peak, offering an unparalleled vantage point. The trailhead is located just off Highway 200 near Heron, Montana, with limited parking at the start of Forest Service Road 2292.

Directions

From milepost 6 on Highway 200, turn north onto Forest Service Road 2292. The trailhead is located approximately 100 yards from the highway on the first switchback of the road. Limited parking for small vehicles at the trailhead; larger vehicles and those with trailers should park on the south side of Highway 200 in a large wide area and walk across the highway to the trailhead.

Nearby Campgrounds