About West Fork Butte Lookout
West Fork Butte Lookout is an ideal place for guests to experience the mountains south of Missoula from a unique vantage point. The facility provides near-360-degree views of the surrounding area. It is equipped with basic supplies and provides guests a base camp location from which to explore the area. Access by vehicle is available for a relatively short time during the summer months and is variable during the spring and fall. From December 1 - May 1 Forest Road 37 is closed, requiring hiking, skiing or snowmobiling roughly 7.5 miles to the facility. Outside of these dates the road may be muddy, snowy or icy - guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities. Hiking trails are available in the area. Visitors often bring cross-country skis or snowshoes for wintertime fun. Snowmobiles are often used to reach the lookout in…
- Fees: $55 per night. Visit [Recreation.gov](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234389) to make reservations.
- Season: March 31, 2025
- Managed by: Lolo National Forest, FS
- Where: 14 mi west of Lolo, MT · 46.73361, -114.40028
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: Oct–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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Fork Butte | Horse | 0.6 mi | 6.8 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
Verizon 4G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way shows rich detail, horizon to horizon.
Class 2 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 20.4 mi
Propane: 20.3 mi