West Fork Butte Lookout
Open — Open year-round for reservations via Recreation.gov. The gate at Forest Road 37 is currently closed until April 30 and will require a 7.5-mile approach by ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile. Check-in is 3 p.m., check-out is 12 p.m.
R1-2024-01 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.
R1-2025-01 Camping stay limits & prohibitions on pallets and refuse use for target shooting
This order defines the maximum length of occupation at a single location or cumulatively at any number of locations within a calendar year, within all national forests in Montana, and the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands, Idaho Panhandle and Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.
R1-2023-02 - NCDE Food and Wildlife Attractant Storage Order
Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Food/Wildlife Attractant Storage Order for the Flathead, Lolo, Kootenai, Helena-Lewis and Clark, and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests within the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.
Order 01-15-00-25-01: Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Great Bear Wilderness Restrictions
Occupancy and Use and Trail Restrictions for the entire Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, as well as trail, stock, and camping restrictions on Our Lake Trail and lake area (Helena-Lewis and Clark NF), beneath the Chinese Wall (Helena-Lewis and Clark NF), and Castle Creek Riverside Campsite (Flathe
Deer Creek Bridge Closure - Superior Ranger District
Due to the recent weather event the Deer Creek Bridge on the Superior Ranger District was severely damaged and is unsafe for travel. For your health and safety please avoid travel in this area.
Ward Creek Road Closure- Superior Ranger District
Due to the recent weather event a portion of the Ward Creek Road is closed. For your health and safety please avoid travel in this area.
25-021-Lolo-D4 Stony Creek Cutoff Closure
The Stony Creek Cutoff Road (Road #5490) is closed for protection of Forest Service stock.
241-023-Lolo-D3 Plant Creek Road Closure
Motor vehicles are prohibited on a portion of Plant Creek Road, National Forest System Road 2132, due to damage following the Miller Peak Fire on the Missoula Ranger District.
About
West Fork Butte Lookout is a historic fire lookout tower converted to overnight rental use, perched on a rocky knob in the Lolo National Forest with near-360-degree views of Lolo Peak, the Bitterroot Mountains, and the Lolo Creek drainage. The 14x14-foot lookout cab sleeps up to four people on metal bunk beds with mattress pads provided. The facility is equipped with a propane cook stove and lantern, a wood stove for heat, table and chairs, and basic kitchen supplies. A vault toilet is located on site. The lookout is situated in a forest of lodgepole pine and larch near the Montana-Idaho border and Lolo Pass. Vehicle access is available during summer months via Forest Road 37, but the gate at the bottom of the road is closed December 1 to April 30 each year. During winter closure, guests must hike, ski, or snowmobile approximately 7.5 miles to reach the facility. The area offers excellent opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling on groomed trails, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Elk, moose, deer, and black bears inhabit the surrounding forest.
Directions
From Lolo, Montana drive 17 miles west on U.S. Highway 12. Turn left (south) onto West Fork Butte Road #37 near Earl Tennant Campground. Follow Forest Road 37 approximately 6.9 miles to the second junction. Take a sharp left (north) at the West Fork Butte Lookout road sign and gate. Follow the road to the lookout. Winter access: The gate at the beginning of Forest Road 37 is closed December 1 through April 30; park at the gate and ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile 7.5 miles to the lookout.
Nearby Campgrounds
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | No |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $55 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (406) 329-3814 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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