Lookout Butte Lookout
Overview
Lookout Butte has a history that spans nearly 80 years and has been home to three lookout towers. The first, built in 1923, was 45 feet tall with just a platform on which to stand. A cabin was put on the tower a couple years later. In 1935, a 50-foot tower was constructed. A new tower was built beside the old one in 1962, and this is currently available for rent.The current 60-foot wooden tower offers panoramic views and the perfect setting for enjoying the area's tranquility and natural beauty. Guests can enjoy the scenery from the exterior catwalk or from inside the single-room cabin.
Recreation
Several primitive roads in the area are open to mountain biking and off-road vehicles. Other activities in the area include hiking through second-growth forest and birding.Facilities
Several primitive roads in the area are open to mountain biking and off-road vehicles. Other activities in the area include hiking through second-growth forest and birding.Natural Features
The lookout sits at 5,869 feet in elevation with breathtaking views of the Selway Crags in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area, the Seven Devils Mountain Range, Coolwater Ridge, Pilot Knob Lookout and the Lochsa and Selway River drainages.Nearby Attractions
Guests can take a sightseeing drive from Lowell to Selway Falls and back. This 42-mile drive offers opportunities to appreciate the pristine beauty of the Selway River, a Wild and Scenic River, as well as picturesque Selway Falls.Activities
- Hiking
- Camping
- Historic & Cultural Site
Media
![Lookout Butte Lookout](https://cdn.recreation.gov/public/2022/02/23/19/40/233128_191d34e2-dd7b-401f-bc6d-c59613f69ccb_700.jpg)
![Lookout Butte Lookout](https://cdn.recreation.gov/public/2022/02/23/20/01/233128_04a17cef-96ea-402c-b3a0-508edf27582d_1440.jpeg)
![Lookout Butte Lookout](https://cdn.recreation.gov/public/2022/02/23/20/04/233128_c5b407b6-1762-4cca-8142-2fe9a2dec3d4_700.jpeg)
![Lookout Butte Lookout](https://cdn.recreation.gov/public/2022/02/23/19/30/233128_9fdfee64-0175-4710-9d8b-b0be3d0d59bc_700.jpg)
![Lookout Butte Lookout](https://cdn.recreation.gov/public/2022/02/23/19/36/233128_11704667-f008-48f8-b3ed-7d0c22d6ac94_1440.jpg)