Lookout rental · U.S. Forest Service · Kootenai National Forest · Libby, MT

Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental

Big Creek Baldy Lookout sits atop its namesake mountain at an elevation of 5,780 feet in the Kootenai National Forest. The lookout has been used as an observation point for spotting forest fires for over 60 years. The lookout is typically open from mid-June through late September. High clearance vehicles are recommended. This mountain hideaway offers some amenities, but guests should plan to pack in some of their own supplies. Cell service is available at the lookout.

Lookout rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 sitePets okFires ok
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Big Creek Baldy LookoutBig Creek Badly HostessBig Creek Baldy alidadeBig Creek Baldy - table
Photos courtesy of KNF · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Fire lookouts1
This lookout is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfacePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001Gravel4 / 4YesBasic

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

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The lookout stands 52 feet tall and has a 225 square foot cabin, which is encircled by a catwalk. It sleeps four and comes furnished with one double bed and one twin bed, both with mattresses. Other amenities include propane lights, a two-burner cooktop, table and chairs, heater, fire extinguisher, cleaning supplies and some cooking utensils. Propane is provided. An outhouse with vault toilet is located near the tower. Water and electricity are not available. Guests must bring enough for drinking, cooking and washing. Items such as cookware, bedding, lanterns or flashlights, matches, extra toilet paper, first aid supplies, trash bags, dish soap, towels and an ice chest are not available. Guests are expected to pack out their trash and clean the cabin before leaving.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.92 inches of precipitation, 11.8 inches of snowFebruary: 1.29 inches of precipitation, 5.4 inches of snowMarch: 1.73 inches of precipitation, 3.8 inches of snowApril: 1.14 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowMay: 1.66 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.04 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.91 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.74 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.09 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.82 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowNovember: 2.29 inches of precipitation, 6.3 inches of snowDecember: 2.52 inches of precipitation, 20.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 27.9°F averageFebruary: 31.5°F averageMarch: 39.3°F averageApril: 46.6°F averageMay: 55.6°F averageJune: 62.5°F averageJuly: 69.2°F averageAugust: 68.5°F averageSeptember: 59.2°F averageOctober: 46.2°F averageNovember: 34.7°F averageDecember: 27.3°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 in25 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Libby 1 NE RS, 16 miles from the campground at 2,096 feet, station USC00245015 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 19 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 48 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Libby travel 1 mile north on Highway 37 to the Pipe Creek Road. Turn left and follow for 19 miles, then turn east (right) onto East Fork Pipe Creek Road/Big Creek Baldy Road 336. Proceed about three quarters of a mile and then turn right onto Big Creek Baldy Mountain Road 309. Follow this road for 5 miles to the lookout.

Nearest townLibby, Montana
Coordinates48.6351° N, 115.5456° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • A campfire ring is located outside, but firewood is not provided.

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceEverything RV ↗16.8 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗25.2 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    Big Creek Lookout Snowmobile
    0.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.8 mi
    Gold Hill Divide ↗
    4.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Shafer/Big Creek Baldy ↗
    7.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.3 mi
    Bruin Creek Snowmobile Spur
    1.8 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.6 mi
    Bruin Creek a Snowmobile Spur
    1.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.7 mi
    West Branch ↗
    9.7 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Kootenai National Forest.

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.

Natural features

The lookout is located in the Purcell Range of the Rocky Mountains and offers panoramic views of densely forested peaks. Lake Koocanusa and the Yaak River valley are prominent features of the landscape. Kootenai National Forest supports populations of deer, elk, moose, grizzly and black bears, wolves and mountain lions ( bear safety ). A variety of smaller mammals and birds can also be found.

Recreation

Hikers can find places to explore around the lookout, and the surrounding Libby Area offers more than 400 miles of summer use trails. The lookout offers an ideal vantage point for star gazing on clear nights.

Guidebooks for Montana

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Montana
    Vicky Soderberg and Ken Soderberg, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Camping
    Becky Lomax, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Montana
    Kenneth L. Graham, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental?

Sites at Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental have?

1 site, including 1 lookout.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental?

Yes, pets are allowed at Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental?

Hikers can find places to explore around the lookout, and the surrounding Libby Area offers more than 400 miles of summer use trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental?

Libby, Montana.

Source: Getting there

What if Big Creek Baldy. Lookout Rental is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Loon Lake Campground (6.3 mi, first-come), Timberlane Campground (10.1 mi), and Rocky Gorge Campground (10.7 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby