Mission Lookout
Mission Lookout towers above the forest canopy, providing guests with unrivaled 360-degree views of the beautiful Swan Range, Mission Mountains and Swan Lake. The site served for 75 years as a fire detection tower, and the current lookout has been around since its construction in 1959. The tower can be accessed by vehicle. A parking area is adjacent to the facility. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Will sleep up to 4 people. Dogs are not allowed in the Lookout.
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 / – |
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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | Mission Lookout is available for $45 a night for a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights. Within the maximum window (a rolling 6 month window), the maximum consecutive stay rule is 7 days and there is a Stay Beyond Maximum Window where customers can book past the 6 month rolling window if there… |
The 15-by-15 facility sits atop a 40-foot tower. It is equipped with a built-in double bed and two folding cots, to accommodate up to four adults. The lookout also has a propane cooking stove, simple cooking utensils and a table with four chairs. A modern vault toilet, picnic area and fire ring are located at the base of the tower. No water or electricity is available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Swan Lake, travel south on Highway 83 for 3 miles. Turn west onto Porcupine Creek Road 10229 (mile-marker 68). After passing Forest Road 9714, turn right onto Forest Road 9803 (2.2 miles after leaving the state highway). Continue on Forest Road 9803 for 1.4 miles, to a gate. The gate may be opened.
| Nearest town | Bigfork, Montana |
| Coordinates | 47.8942° N, 113.8731° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 26.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Rocky Mountain Outfitter ↗ | 29.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The town of Swan Lake, about 15 minutes away, has a general store with limited groceries and a restaurant.
- 3 miSwan Lake Day Use Pass ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miCrane Mtn Snowmobile Spur B ↗9.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 2.1 miBond Creek ↗7.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.2 miCrane Mtn Snowmobile ↗20.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 3.3 miWire Trail ↗6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3.7 miHall Lake Trail ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile
- 3.9 miSixmile Lookout ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
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 Flathead National Forest.
- under 0.1 miSwan River National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 1,937 acres
- inFlathead National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,651,693 acres
- 13.4 miBob Marshall Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 1,062,694 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
- Swan River BridgeStructure · Bigfork · 14.7 mi
Natural features
At an elevation of approximately 3,700 feet, the cabin affords views of Flathead National Forest, including the Mission Mountains and Swan Lake. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area.
Recreation
Along with the spectacular scenery, the immediate area offers visitors an unlimited array of outdoor activities ranging from fishing and swimming at the nearby Swan Lake, to watching migratory waterfowl at the wildlife viewing area. Hunting is also popular not far from the lookout. Shooting within 150 yards of the Lookout or from/across roads is prohibited. A variety of hiking and mountain biking trails can be found in the area.
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 Mission Lookout?
Sites at Mission Lookout are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Mission Lookout?
Mission Lookout is available for $45 a night for a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights. Within the maximum window (a rolling 6 month window), the maximum consecutive stay rule is 7 days and there is a Stay Beyond Maximum Window where customers can book past the 6 month rolling window if there…
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Mission Lookout?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Mission Lookout have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Mission Lookout?
Along with the spectacular scenery, the immediate area offers visitors an unlimited array of outdoor activities ranging from fishing and swimming at the nearby Swan Lake, to watching migratory waterfowl at the wildlife viewing area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Mission Lookout?
Bigfork, Montana. The town of Swan Lake, about 15 minutes away, has a general store with limited groceries and a restaurant.
Source: Getting there
What if Mission Lookout is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Swan Lake Campground (3.1 mi, partly first-come), Peter's Creek Campground (15.5 mi, first-come), and Spotted Bear Campground (16.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby