Montana

Squaw Peak Lookout

Length: 5 one_way miles
Low Point: 2051'
High Point: 6167'
Season: All Year
Scenery: 4.5/5

Difficulty: 4.5/5

Submitted by: Chic

Directions

Drive east on Hwy 200 from Sandpoint into Montana. About .2 mile past milepost 6 there is a brown sign that says Big Eddy camp ground.
The trail is exactly opposite the sign and starts out as an old road.

Trail Description

This trail is 5 miles long and is 4116 feet of elevation gain. About .5 miles the road turns into trail #998. Along the way the views of the Clark Fork River are a good reason to stop and catch your breath. As you gain the summit you first see an old cabin with the lookout tower above it on a rocky summit. The views from the porch are some of the best in the Cabinets. After a rest wonder around the summit plateau and look for an old outhouse to the south. This is an unusual place to find an outhouse but it is suprisingly photogenic. While at the lookout you will be able to view the entire Cabinet Mountain wilderness as well as the Proposed Scotchman's Peaks Wilderness area all around you. Along the ridge to the n.w. is Biliard Table Mt., Scotchman's Peak 1 and 2 and Sawtooth Peak above Ross Creek Cedars. Although this hike is difficult, I urge anyone able to do it to take a long day and be blown away with the sheer beauty from up high. For more information on the Proposed Scotchman's Peaks Wilderrness, go to www.scotchmanpeak.org. This hike is in Trails of the Wild Cabinets by Dennis Nicholls on page 108.