The Long Way
Sanders County
A white cabin with a viewing deck sits atop a rocky hill under a blue sky.
Plate I. Exterior view of Minton Peak Lookout. From montanalookouts.weebly.com
A historic black and white photograph showing people standing on a wooden lookout tower.
Plate II. Historic photo of Minton Peak Lookout. From recreation.gov
A wooden table and bench are set up inside a room.
Plate III. Interior table and furnishings, Minton Peak Lookout. From recreation.gov
An interior view of a cabin featuring a bed, wood-burning stove, and large windows.
Plate IV. Wood stove interior, Minton Peak Lookout. From recreation.gov
An interior shot of a room with a bed, a wooden cabinet, and a wood-burning stove.
Plate V. Interior bed and stove, Minton Peak Lookout. From recreation.gov

Minton Peak Lookout

Trout Creek, Sanders County, Montana. Lookout; late June through mid-October.

Details

Map. Trout Creek, Sanders County, Montana. Larger map
Where
2693 MT Hwy 200, Trout Creek, MT 59874. Directions
Getting there
From Trout Creek, take Cedar Street to Pine Street. Turn right and follow for 5.89 miles. (Pine St. turns into Marten Cr. Road). Turn left on Minton Peak Road 322 and follow for 7.9 miles to the lookout Road 322A. Follow this road for 0.62 miles to the lookout.
Fees
$55.00 a night.
Access
Accessible by car. Check-in 2:00 pm / Check-out 11:00 am. There is no water source available at the lookout. Access depends on weather conditions.
Walk-in or reserve
Call the Ranger District at (406) 827-3533 prior to arrival to confirm your stay.
Phone
406-827-3533
Managed by
Kootenai National Forest.
Established
1932.
Coordinates
47.82823, -115.770945.

Minton Peak Lookout is situated in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,351 feet in the Kootenai National Forest. The original lookout was constructed in 1932, replaced in 1968, and completely rebuilt in 2011.

Notable Events

  1. 1933One crew working out of ECW Camp No. F-10 at Trout Creek, Montana, started the work of placing maple floor in the Minton Peak Lookout House. montanalookouts.weebly.com
  2. 1934A devastating burn spreading through the night, crowning heavily and throwing spot fires four miles ahead, forced abandonment of the Minton lookout, which had not been destroyed at last reports. montanalookouts.weebly.com
  3. 1938The Trout Creek blaze caused the abandonment of the Minton lookout station, but the cabin so far had escaped. montanalookouts.weebly.com
  4. 1968A L-4 cab was built atop a 10-foot treated timber tower. montanalookouts.weebly.com
  5. 19731973 was the last season the lookout was staffed. montanalookouts.weebly.com
  6. 2011The L-4 cab was completely rebuilt atop a five-foot timber tower. montanalookouts.weebly.com

People

  • Col. David Minton, Ohio cavalryman who homesteaded (and is buried) near the mouth of Minton Creek; the mountain and lookout were named after him.
  • Bob Iff Jr., had been on the Minton Peak lookout station; moved to the Trout Creek ranger station (1936).
  • Elmer Knudson, his lookout was Minton Peak (1941).

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/250012
  2. recreation.gov/api/camps/campgrounds/250012
  3. fs.usda.gov/r01/kootenai/recreation/minton-peak-lookout
  4. montanalookouts.weebly.com/minton-peak.html