About Cougar Peak Lookout
The Cougar Peak Lookout offers guests an opportunity to experience an old-time Forest Service lookout. The tower commands an impressive view of the river valley, the surrounding Cabinet Mountains and the opposing Coeur d'Alene Mountains. The structure is small and is not elevated like many other lookouts. The lookout can be accessed by vehicle, although late spring snow drifts may compromise parts of the road, requiring visitors to hike a short distance. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. A variety of trails and points of exploration are accessible from the lookout. The Cougar Peak Trail follows the ridge below the lookout and travels towards Vermillion Pass to the northeast. The Clark Fork River is dammed twice within an hour drive of the lookout. The Noxon Rapids and the Cabinet Gorge dams create…
- Fees: $45 per night. Visit [Recreation.gov](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234423) to make reservations.
- Season: June 13
- Managed by: Lolo National Forest, FS
- Where: 7 mi north of Belknap, MT · 47.74444, -115.38306
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Jun–Sep (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Nov–Apr.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cougar Peak | Hiking | 0.1 mi | 3.5 mi |
| Winniemuck Creek | Horse | 2.1 mi | 5.7 mi |
| Slide Rock Mountain | Hiking | 2.9 mi | 6.1 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
Verizon 4G · AT&T 5G · T-Mobile 5G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way casts shadows and the sky is crowded with stars.
Class 1 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Stargazing nearby: Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge (Dark Sky Sanctuary), 40 mi.
Camps nearby
- Campsite · 13 mi E of Trout Creek 9.3 mi
- Willow Creek Campground 9.4 mi
- Fishtrap Lake Campground 11.7 mi
- West Fork Fishtrap Creek Campground 12.1 mi
- Sex Peak. Lookout Rental 12.5 mi
- Clark Memorial Campground 12.6 mi