Spyglass Ground House
Spyglass Lookout Ground House is located on Spyglass Peak, in the heart of the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. It's approximately 2.5 miles east and slightly south, as the crow flies, of the Magee Historic Site. The Spyglass Lookout site is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. It was first used as a patrol point in 1911 and by the 1920s supported a tower and housing for forest fire lookouts. It was an operational lookout until the mid- to late 60s and then abandoned in the 1970s.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spyglass Cabin | Gravel | Partial | 4 / 3 | Yes | Basic |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The ground house measures 14 x 14 feet and offers a dry cabin camping experience for 4 guests; there is no water or electricity. There are two new single mattresses and one bedframe to provide sleeping accommodations for two, with one mattress on the floor. Additional guests may need to provide their own sleeping pads or cots. There are kitchen table and chairs, a Jotul woodstove, wood box, and storage cabinet with basic dishes and eating utensils. There is no refrigerator or cooking stove. Outside the cabin is a picnic table and fire pit. The outdoor pit toilet is located about 150 feet from the cabin and is supplied with biodegradable toilet paper. Visitors should bring plenty of water for drinking and washing up, sleeping bags, matches or lighter, newspaper, garbage bags, flashlight, an ice chest for food storage, battery or propane lanterns, a propane cook stove, dish soap, towels and wash cloth, toiletries, insect repellent, first aid kit, extra toilet paper (just in case), and warm clothes.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-90 take Exit #43 (Kingston) and drive 24 miles north on Forest Highway 9 (2-lane and paved) to Prichard Junction. Continue on Forest Road 208 for 28 miles to the end of the pavement and the start of Forest Road 6310 (a gravel road with large rocks and potholes). Travel 7 miles to Magee Ranger's Cabin historic site, then continue approx.
| Nearest town | Smelterville, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 47.8421° N, 116.1970° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD4 Rx Hwy 50 Roadside Salvage
50 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 19.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | All Seasons RV ↗ | 27.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | North 40 Outfitters ↗ | 28.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miFearn Creek3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miHalsey Creek ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miBig Foot Ridge2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miMagee Pk-Bear Creek ↗9.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.2 miBoundary Peak ↗6.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.3 miIndependence Creek NRT ↗13.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more · national_recreation_or_other
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
- inIdaho Panhandle National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,943,333 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
Spyglass Peak is situated at 5,190 feet in elevation and is surrounded by the Coeur d' Alene Mountains. From vantage points near the cabin, vistas of ridge tops, forested slopes, and drainages of the North Fork Coeur d'Alene River and tibutaries extend as far as the eye can see. Wildlife in the area include moose, elk, whitetail deer, mule deer, wolf, black bear, mountain lion, fisher, ground squirrels, grouse, and goshawks, as well as other birds and many small mammals.
Recreation
The cabin provides access to several non-motorized hiking trails and a popular fishing stream for day excursions in the surrounding area. The trailhead for Fearn Creek (Trail #407) is about 1 1/2 miles from the cabin and the upper trailhead for Halsey Creek (Trail #451) is about 2 miles from the site. Within 8-10 miles of the cabin are trailheads for Boundary Peak (Trail #325), the lower end of Halsey Creek Trail, and the lower end of Little Elk Creek (Trail #32). Also within this range is Tepee Creek, a favorite fly fishing stream with a westslope cutthroat trout fishery. Slightly further, but still within range of a day outing is Independence Creek National Recreation Trail (Trail #22). This trail offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and motorcycle riding.
Nearby
Fishing streams, non-motorized hiking trails, motorcycle trail, Magee Historic Site
Guidebooks for Idaho
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Spyglass Ground House?
Sites at Spyglass Ground House are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Spyglass Ground House?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Spyglass Ground House have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Spyglass Ground House?
Yes, pets are allowed at Spyglass Ground House. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Spyglass Ground House?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Spyglass Ground House?
The cabin provides access to several non-motorized hiking trails and a popular fishing stream for day excursions in the surrounding area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Spyglass Ground House?
Smelterville, Idaho. Fishing streams, non-motorized hiking trails, motorcycle trail, Magee Historic Site
Source: Getting there
What if Spyglass Ground House is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Hank (4.8 mi), Devils Elbow (9.9 mi), and Berlin Flats (9.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby