Walde Lookout Cabin
Walde Lookout Cabin was built in 1941 to house the employees who worked in the adjacent fire lookout, which was built in 1939. The fire lookout is still in use during the summer and fall, so the cabin is only available for rent from approximately mid-December through late March. This charming, rustic cabin has been restored to its original character. Guests must reach the cabin by snowmobile, skis or snowshoes. This is a trip of around 17 miles, and guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. The cabin provides a few conveniences, but guests will need to bring some supplies and gear to make a cozy and comfortable retreat for enjoying winter recreation.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | People / vehicles |
|---|---|
| 001 | 4 / 4 |
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 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
This 14x16-ft. log cabin accommodates four people with two mattresses located in a loft area and two cots. A wood stove heats the cabin, which is also equipped with a table and four chairs, a propane cook stove, propane lights, basic cooking and eating utensils, smoke alarm, mop and bucket, fire extinguisher and a snow shovel. Firewood is available in a shed just outside. Toilet facilities consist of an outhouse with a pit toilet. Guests should be prepared to shovel a path to the cabin, shed and outhouse, as well as remove snow from the propane tank to turn it on. There is no electricity or running water. Guests should bring their own drinking water. Natural sources can also provide water, although it should be boiled for culinary use. Garbage bags are also needed to pack out trash. Bedding, flashlights or lanterns, extra batteries, matches, first aid supplies and toilet paper are not provided. Guests should remember to bring their rental permit with them to the cabin.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Kooskia, ID, take Highway 12 East to Kamiah. Turn left onto Woodland Road for half a mile, then take the second right onto Glenwood Road (Road 100). Stay on this paved road until you reach the junction with Yakus Creek Road (Road 519).
| Nearest town | Kooskia, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 46.2353° N, 115.6353° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Stray Creek Lcrd
6 mi from the campground · 150 acres
- PrescribedRx Rescue Jensen Nfrd
19 mi from the campground · 44 acres
- PrescribedRx Barnyard Units Nfrd
36 mi from the campground · 41 acres
- WildfireMoose Mountain
42 mi from the campground · 5,832 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Rae Bros. Sporting Goods ↗ | 31.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 11.1 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miS. Cabin Ridge0.3 mi trail
- 0.8 miFan Saddle South A1.6 mi trail
- 1 miMystery Creek3.6 mi trail
- 1.1 miOld Higgins0.4 mi trail
- 1.2 miUpper Yakus ↗8.5 mi trail
- 1.2 miSmith Cr ↗10.7 mi trail
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 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.
- inNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,072,795 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
On the National Register nearby
- Weippe Community HallBuilding · Weippe · 3.6 mi
- Big Cedar SchoolBuilding · Kooskia · 13.6 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits at an elevation of 5,220 feet on the watershed divide between the Lochsa and Clearwater Rivers. This vantage point shows off the western slopes of the vast Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and the jagged peaks of the Selway Crags. The cabin is surrounded by a dense evergreen forest. The winter landscape is blanketed in deep, pristine snow. Wildlife sightings may include mule and white-tailed deer, elk, moose, gray wolf and cougar. A variety of birds also inhabit the area.
Recreation
Several trails crisscross the vicinity, ideal for snowmobiling, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. There are good places to sled nearby.
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 Walde Lookout Cabin?
Sites at Walde Lookout Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Walde Lookout Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Walde Lookout Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Walde Lookout Cabin?
Several trails crisscross the vicinity, ideal for snowmobiling, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Walde Lookout Cabin?
Kooskia, Idaho.
Source: Getting there
What if Walde Lookout Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Apgar Campground (5 mi, first-come), Glade Creek Campground (5.3 mi), and Lolo Creek Campground (6.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby