The Lookouts of Glacier National Park

The Lookouts of Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park once had an array of seventeen manned fire lookouts within its borders, only nine remain standing.

Due to improvements in fire detection technologies, most have been deemed unnecessary and have gone the way of the dinosaurs.

Many were destroyed, only four are still in use today.

Roughly half of these lookouts existed at or near the summit of their mountains, the rest were on prominent ridges.

All had fantastic views of the surrounding country side, which obviously is why their locations were chosen.

Numa Ridge Lookout

Built: 1934. Still manned during the summer. Elevation: 6960ft GPS Coordinates: 48.88373 -114.17992 On a point 1.5 miles SW of Numa Peak over looking Bowman Lake. Accessible via trail Trailhead: Bowman Lake Campground Distance: 5.6 miles Elevation gain: 2930ft I have read descriptions saying this is the easiest lookout trail in the park; Not true. It is a bit of work getting to this one. The trail is boring, nothing but trees until you reach the lookout. The views are OK, but nothing to brag about. Although, the day I went the tops of Rainbow Peak and Mt. Carter were in hidden in clouds.

Scalplock Lookout

Built: 1931. Still manned during the summer. Elevation: 6919ft GPS Coordinates: 48.29958 -113.57467 On the summit of Scalplock Mountain Accessible via trailTrailhead: Walton Ranger Station Distance: 4.7 miles Elevation gain: 3079ft A wonderful hike in the summer, trail is always in good shape. Its also a fantastic snowshoe in the winter.

Swiftcurrent Lookout

Built: 1935. Still manned during the summer, as needed. Elevation: 8436ft GPS Coordinates: 48.78543 -113.76703 On the summit of Swiftcurrent Mountain. Accessible via trail Three possible trail heads Trailhead: Going-To-The-Sun LoopDistance: 6.2 milesElevation gain: 4178ft Trailhead: Many Glacier, Swiftcurrent InnDistance 7.8 milesElevation gain: 3492ft Trailhead: Logan PassDistance: 9.9 milesElevation gain: 2550ft All the trails leading to Swiftcurrent Pass are great, try each of them.Just west of the pass is the turn off up Swiftcurrent Mountain. It's a bald, brown, round, hump not much to look at. The trail has a dozen or more switch backs. It's kind of eerie in spots where the ghostly white remnants of alpine trees that were killed in the fires of 2003 line the trail.

Huckleberry Mountain Lookout

Built: 1968. Still manned during the summer. Elevation: 6593 ft GPS Coordinates: 48.60017 -114.13410 On summit of Huckleberry Mountain. Accessible via trail Trailhead: On Camas Rd. 5 miles north of Apgar Distance: 6 miles Elevation gain: 3403ft Two previous lookouts stood on this site each burned down in the fires of 1929 and 1967.This is a great hike. The fist few miles are kind of boring, just trees. But then with each turn and rise you see something new and wonderful.The trail keeps you guessing all the way; Where is the lookout? Then suddenly there it is.There are great views of the North Fork of the Flathead River, Longfellow Mountain and Heaven's Peak. Edwards, Gunsight, Jackson, and Stimson fill the eastern horizon.Bear frequent this trail, so keep your eyes open and your pepper spray handy.

Apgar Mountain Lookout

Built 1929. Still standing, not currently in use Elevation: 5236ft GPS Coordinates: 48.51809 -114.02070 On southern most point ofThe Apgar Mountains. Accessible via trail Trailhead: 1.5 mile past Quarter Circle bridge just inside the West entrance. Distance: 2.8 miles Elevation gain: 1835ft A previous lookout on this site burned in the fire of 1929.This is the shortest lookout trail in the park, but not the easiest, it is pretty steep.A simple hike up, though I recommend going early morning the trial is on a south facing slope with very little shade.

Mount Brown Lookout

Built: 1929. Still standing, not currently in use Elevation: 7487ft GPS Coordinates: 48.62854 -113.83376 On point 1 miles SW of Mount Brown's Summit Accessible via trail Trailhead: Lake McDonald Lodge Distance: 5.4 miles Elevation gain: 4305ft From here you have views of Lake McDonald, Mt Edwards, and the Belton Hills.This is the steepest lookout trail in the park. The trail is same as used to reach Sperry Chalet and Snyder Lake for the first two miles, were you turn at Brown Lookout Junction. Then things get steep.A total 30 switch backs from the junction. The only good views while on the trail come at turn 7, 25, and 26, the rest of the time all you see are trees.This is a great snowshoe destination since the road is open to this trail head year round.

Loneman Lookout

Built: 1929. Still standing, not currently in use Elevation: 7181ft GPS Coordinates: 48.48899 -113.76963 On summit of Loneman Mountain. Accessible via trail Trail head: Nyack Ford just past mile marker 164 on Hwy 2 Distance: 7 miles Elevation gain: 3900ft A previous lookout stood here which burned in the fire of 1929.There are no bridges on the trail to this lookout, so you have to ford the Flathead River and Nyack Creek.Once you cross Nyack Creek, one mile in, the trail starts a very steady climb to lookout. It's easy to set and maintain a good pace all the way. Not much for views on the trail but once you get to the lookout the mountains of the Great Bear Wilderness and Nyack Valley open up to you.

Porcupine Ridge Lookout

Built: 1939. Still standing, Abandoned. Elevation: 7100ft GPS Coordinates: 48.91056 -113.92754 On slope below Porcupine Ridge overlooking the Waterton Valley. Trail head: Goat Haunt Distance 9.7 miles Elevation Gain: 4100ft I finally visited this lookout in 2017. Access is very involved. You will need a passport. We drove up to Waterton National park in Canada, purchased a tour boat ticket for $64 Canadian, you need two one-way tickets which is more expensive, there are three boats a day during tourist season 10am, 1pm, 4pm, . The 1 hour boat ride took up to Goat Haunt at the south end of Waterton Lake which is in America so we had to register with US Customs and Border Patrol upon arrival at the camp ground. We camped overnight, and started hiking the Waterton Valley trail at 7am. Its 4.2 miles to the intersection with the lookout trail. Then another 5.4 miles to the lookout. The lookout trail is not really maintained, very overgrown with brush, walking it is more of a bushwhack than a trail walk, along the way you will have to wade across the Waterton River then Valentine Creek, in fact you will have to cross it about 3-4 times depending on how it is meandering each year. Through that creek area it is difficult to find the trail some flagging has been strung in trees and bushes to help keep you on track. Once you starting climbing the steep side of Porcupine Ridge you will go through 17 switchbacks before reaching the lookout.

Heaven's Peak Lookout

Built: 1945. Still standing, Abandoned. Elevation: 7244ft GPS Coordinates: 48.74899 -113.87591 On ridge 3 miles north of Heaven's Peak Bushwhack up from McDonald Creek trail 3 miles north of Packers' Roost.This is probably the most difficult Lookout to reach in the park.link to Heaven's Peak Lookout Route

Red Eagle Lookout

Bear Mountain Point Lookout

Heaven's Peak South Lookout

Reynolds Ridge Lookout

Curly Bear Lookout

Elk Mountain Lookout

Waterton Lake Lookout

Riverview Mountain Lookout