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

Sex Peak. Lookout Rental

Sex Peak Lookout is situated in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,772 feet in the Kootenai National Forest. The original lookout was constructed in the early 1920s and replaced by the current lookout in 1948. The peak was named by I.V. Anderson, an early forester, and Harry Baker, supervisor of what was then Cabinet National Forest. It is rumored that they named the peak after their topic of conversation at the time. The lookout is typically open from late June through mid-October and is accessible by car. This rustic retreat offers a few amenities, but guests should pack in most of their own supplies and gear.

Lookout rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 sitePets okFires ok
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Sex Peak LookoutHistoric Sex Peak LookoutSex Peak Lookout-tableTwin beds with mattresses
Photos courtesy of U.S. Forest Service, 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.

SiteEntrySurfacePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001Pull-throughGravel4 / 2YesStandard

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 14x14-ft. lookout has windows on all sides and is encircled by a catwalk. The cabin sleeps 4 people and is equipped 2 twin size beds with mattresses. Other amenities include a table, chair, bench, a wood stove for heat, broom and dustpan. Firewood is provided. An outhouse with vault toilet and a campfire ring are located outside. The lookout does not have electricity or water. Guests should being enough water for drinking, cooking and washing. Items such as a cook stove, cooking gear, 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 Sex Peak. Lookout Rental20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 3.20 inches of precipitation, 18.2 inches of snowFebruary: 2.34 inches of precipitation, 6.4 inches of snowMarch: 1.93 inches of precipitation, 3.7 inches of snowApril: 1.75 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowMay: 2.06 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.42 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.90 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.86 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.32 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.86 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 3.46 inches of precipitation, 5.8 inches of snowDecember: 3.72 inches of precipitation, 17.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.0°F averageFebruary: 30.8°F averageMarch: 38.0°F averageApril: 45.0°F averageMay: 53.6°F averageJune: 59.5°F averageJuly: 66.8°F averageAugust: 65.7°F averageSeptember: 57.6°F averageOctober: 46.1°F averageNovember: 34.7°F averageDecember: 27.6°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Trout Creek RS, 10 miles from the campground at 2,356 feet, station USC00248380 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 27 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 51 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Cabinet Ranger Station, travel approximately 11 miles southeast on Highway 200 and turn right onto Big Beaver Creek Road 152 (Faro Lane). Drive south 2 miles and take a right at the "T" junction. Follow this road for approximately 9 miles, after passing the “Jackpine Flats” camping area the road spits.

Nearest townTrout Creek, Montana
Coordinates47.7230° N, 115.6444° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D4 Rx Hwy 50 Roadside Salvage

    34 mi from the campground

  • Wildfire
    Nugget Hill

    35 mi from the campground · 35 acres

  • Prescribed
    D4 Rx Simmons Peak

    48 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Rx D7 Lost Creek 155/559

    48 mi from the campground · 17 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗26.1 mi
RV sales & serviceEverything RV ↗46.4 mi

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

Explore

  • 1.8 mi
    Reader Gulch
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 2.6 mi
    Cub Creek
    2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 3 mi
    Grays Gulch
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 3.1 mi
    White Pine Ridge
    1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 2 more
  • 3.4 mi
    Emma Creek ↗
    6.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile
  • 3.7 mi
    Chute Gulch
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

Trailheads within three miles

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 Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The lookout sits on a mound of rocks surrounded by evergreen forest. It offers panoramic views of Clarks Fork Valley, the Bitterroot Mountains to the west and the Cabinet Range to the east. This is an ideal vantage point to enjoy sunrises and sunsets and gaze out at starry skies on clear nights. 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

Old logging roads provide a way for hikers and mountain bikers to explore the area. Wild berries ripen in the area during the summer, inviting berry pickers.

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 Sex Peak. Lookout Rental?

Sites at Sex Peak. 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 Sex Peak. Lookout Rental?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Sex Peak. Lookout Rental have?

1 site, including 1 lookout.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Sex Peak. Lookout Rental?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sex Peak. Lookout Rental. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sex Peak. Lookout Rental?

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

What is there to do at Sex Peak. Lookout Rental?

Old logging roads provide a way for hikers and mountain bikers to explore the area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Sex Peak. Lookout Rental?

Trout Creek, Montana.

Source: Getting there

What if Sex Peak. Lookout Rental is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Jackpine Flats Campground (2.6 mi, first-come), North Shore Campground (9.5 mi, first-come), and Marten Creek Campground (12 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby