The Long Way
Ravalli County
A fire lookout tower stands on a rocky mountain summit.
Plate I. Medicine Point Lookout on mountain peak. From fs.usda.gov
A fire lookout tower stands atop a rocky mountain peak against a clear blue sky.
Plate II. Medicine Point Lookout tower. From recreation.gov
A fire lookout tower sits atop a rocky hill surrounded by pine trees under a clear blue sky.
Plate III. Medicine Point Lookout seen from trail. From recreation.gov
A view from the exterior balcony of a lookout tower overlooking mountains and forests.
Plate IV. Catwalk view, Medicine Point Lookout. From recreation.gov
A view of mountains and forest from a covered observation deck.
Plate V. View from the catwalk, Medicine Point Lookout. From recreation.gov
A wooden staircase leads up a tower structure with a mountain landscape in the background.
Plate VI. Wooden steps, Medicine Point Lookout. From recreation.gov
A fire lookout tower stands atop a rocky peak against a clear blue sky.
Plate VII. Historic Medicine Point Lookout tower. From recreation.gov
A tall wooden fire lookout tower stands on a rocky summit against a clear blue sky.
Plate VIII. Medicine Point Lookout tower. From recreation.gov
A green outhouse stands outdoors among trees and sparse vegetation under a blue sky.
Plate IX. Outhouse, Medicine Point Lookout. From recreation.gov

Medicine Point Lookout

Sula, Ravalli County, Montana. Historic L4 lookout; July to September.

Details

Map. Sula, Ravalli County, Montana. Larger map
Where
Sula, Ravalli County, MT. No street address stated. Directions
When
Check In: 2:00pm; Check Out: Noon.
Getting there
From Sula, MT head northwest 5 miles on Hwy 93. Turn west (left) on to Laird Creek Road (#370). Go approximately 4 miles to Bear Creek Saddle. At Bear Creek Saddle, turn north onto Road # 5731. Go approximately 2 miles to the Medicine Point Trailhead. The hike to the lookout is approximately 4 miles.
Fees
$30 per night.
Access
Limit of 4 people; Pack it In - Pack it Out; Food Storage REQUIRED.
Walk-in or reserve
Recreation.gov reservations; call the Darby/Sula Ranger Station at (406) 821-3913 a week in advance of arrival for the door lock combination.
Phone
(406) 821-3913
Managed by
Sula Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest.
Established
Restored to reflect a lookout of the 1940's.
Coordinates
45.80694444, -114.1097222.

Medicine Point Lookout is a historic tower located on Medicine Point, west of Sula. It has been restored to reflect a lookout of the 1940s, including the stove, furniture, dishes and other small touches. It offers a unique chance for visitors to camp on a mountain peak, near the scenic Bitterroot River in a rustic, old-time setting, while having the enjoyment of recreating on public lands.

Notable Events

  1. 1939The Bitterroot National Forest added Medicine Point Lookout to its fixed point fire detection system in 1939 and used it through 1967. npgallery.nps.gov
  2. 1976The lookout was last staffed in 1976. web.archive.org
  3. 1980sThe tower was used sporadically in the 1980s. firelookout.com
  4. 1999The lookout was restored in 1999. web.archive.org
  5. 2018The National Park Service opened the Medicine Point Lookout nomination for public comment, under the L–4 Fire Lookouts in the USFS Northern Region (Region 1), 1932–1967 multiple property submission, reference MP100002298. govinfo.gov
  6. 2018Three more lookouts within the Bitterroot National Forest were being recommended for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. missoulian.com

People

  • Bill Friermuth, known lookout personnel (1964).
  • Dale Dye, known lookout personnel, with Mrs. Dye (1958).
  • Del Reynolds, known lookout personnel (1968-1969).
  • Jack Schlager, known lookout personnel, with Mrs. Schlager (1956).
  • James Maclean, known lookout personnel (1967-1968).
  • Jim Fazio, known lookout personnel (1963).
  • Jim Kautz, known lookout personnel (1971).
  • Kelsey Milner, known lookout personnel (1965).
  • Luther Britton, known lookout personnel (1957 and 1959).
  • Ralph Robinson III, known lookout personnel (1962).
  • Raymond Barnett, known lookout personnel, with Mrs. Barnett (1946).
  • Walter Martin, known lookout personnel (1961).
  • Rene Eustace, fire lookout coordinator for part of Montana's Bitterroot National Forest (1976).
  • Brandborg, Forest Supervisor.
  • Clyde Fickes, originally designed the 1931-pattern L-4 Lookout House.
  • Evan Kelley, Regional Forester who suggested that Forest Supervisor Brandborg make use of Civilian Conservation Corps crews to erect the L-4 kits.
  • Craig Bobzien, District Ranger who nominated the lookout to the National Historic Lookout Register (October 8, 1999).

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234296
  2. fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/recreation/medicine-point-lookout
  3. npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/2b885614-5bd1-4e96-960b-9dab26fd8c55
  4. mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/docs/MPDs/MT_ID_FireLookoutsMPD.pdf
  5. npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/100002298