Double Arrow Lookout
The Double Arrow Lookout offers guests a chance to see the Seeley valley and the adjacent Swan Mountains from a different and unique vantage point, high above the hillside. The tower contains a few modern amenities, including electricity, but allows guests to personalize their visits with their own supplies. A variety of recreational opportunities exist in the surrounding mountains, but the view is usually what attracts people to the tower.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | No / – | 4 / 1 | Yes | Prime |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Double Arrow has an exterior stairway leading to a platform with a covered walkway all the way around the window-encased living quarters. The facility has electric lights, heat, a cook stove and a small refrigerator. An outdoor vault toilet is a short distance from the tower. Two single platforms and two portable cots are provided, able to sleep up to four people. Camping and sleeping are not allowed in the area around and below the lookout. Cell phone service is available in the area. Guests must furnish everything they need in the way of bedding, cooking and eating equipment and cleaning supplies. Guests will also need to bring their own food, towels, soap, garbage bags and toilet paper, among other supplies deemed necessary. The cabin will need to be cleaned before leaving. The lookout can be accessed by vehicle, however, the steep dirt and gravel road requires high-clearance vehicles. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From the town of Seeley Lake, turn west on Riverview Drive halfway between MM 13 & 14. Drive straight on the paved road for 0.6 mile, where you will cross over the Clearwater River. Continue on the same road another 0.6 mile where the road will split, stay straight (do not go right). The road will narrow, become more rocky and rough.
| Nearest town | Seeley Lake, Montana |
| Coordinates | 47.1647° N, 113.5311° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 37
6 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 20
7 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 23
9 mi from the campground
- PrescribedGlade Creek Piles Rx
38 mi from the campground · 1 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bretz RV & Marine ↗ | 29.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures ↗ | 29.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The lookout is a short distance from the Clearwater River Canoe Trail, which offers a prime location to witness the area's spectacular birding, wildlife viewing and scenic views. The 3.5-mile trail can be completed in a couple hours and is done entirely on the water.
- 14.8 miRiver Point Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miDouble Arrow Lookout2.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- under 0.1 miDouble Arrow Lo0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miTupper Lake1.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 0.9 miW Bypass From Arch- Eglwatch1.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1 miArchibald Loop ↗7.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.4 miGus0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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 Lolo National Forest.
- inLolo National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,625,457 acres
- 14.6 miRattlesnake Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 34,304 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
- Double Arrow LookoutBuilding · Seeley Lake · 0 mi
- Camp Paxson Boy Scout Camp (24Mo77)Building · Lolo National Forest · 1.7 mi
- Double Arrow LodgeBuilding · Seeley Lake · 3.6 mi
Natural features
The lookout is a 14-by-14 structure atop a 20 foot tower. It was built in 1933 and staffed by Forest Service employees until the mid-'80s, when it was opened to the public for recreation purposes. The tower is now listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. The forest contains a wide variety of trees, plants and wildlife, and is home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, deer and grizzly and black bears (learn about bear safety ). Both the bald and golden eagle reside in the forest, along with trumpeter swan, herons and dozens of varieties of ducks.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy hunting and hiking. There are a variety of trails that lead from the lookout into the surrounding mountains and valleys. Seeley Lake is located about 2 miles east of Double Arrow and is open to fishing, boating and other water-related recreation. It has a boat ramp, as well as a sandy beach with ample shade for visitors who just want to relax and enjoy the alpine setting.
Guidebooks for Montana
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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 Double Arrow Lookout?
Sites at Double Arrow Lookout are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Double Arrow Lookout?
Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Double Arrow Lookout have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Double Arrow Lookout?
The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Can I have a campfire at Double Arrow Lookout?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Double Arrow Lookout?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Double Arrow Lookout?
Visitors enjoy hunting and hiking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Double Arrow Lookout?
Seeley Lake, Montana. The lookout is a short distance from the Clearwater River Canoe Trail, which offers a prime location to witness the area's spectacular birding, wildlife viewing and scenic views.
Source: Getting there
What if Double Arrow Lookout is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are River Point Lolo Campground (1.7 mi), Seeley Lake Lolo Campground (1.9 mi), and Hidden Lake Campground (2.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby