Skookum Butte Lookout and Summit

Lolo National Forest, Montana and Clearwater National Forest Idaho

A cool morning and it was time to find the old fire lookout that sits squarely on the summit of Skookum Butte. It also happens to straddle the Montana and Idaho state line and after getting on the trail I found markers showing it is a National Scenic Trail as well. The trip to the top starts in a wonderful meadow that looks like it should have an elk herd grazing in it. No elk present when I was there but there sure was lots of elk sign all around.

The trail was pretty steep after departing the meadow but it got me up to great views of the mountains in all directions as soon as I broke out of the trees. I can see why they put a fire lookout on top all those years ago. Would have been a wonderful place to work.

I am fascinated by the old lookouts around the mountaintops of Montana, and am starting to be able to tell what version they are. This one is a modified L-5 and looks as if it will be around for many years to come as long as fire doesn't get it at some time.

Wonderful huckleberries to be picked on the way down the mountain, now I have enough for a good batch of homemade jam with plenty left over for ice cream. Driving on forest service roads I come up on some weird signs from time to time. This one let me know I had crossed into Idaho and was now back in Montana. Got a kick out of seeing the sign on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere.