Lunch Peak Lookout

Our visit to Lunch Peak Lookout began as a hike gone awry. Kyle was recovering from covid and I was just starting to feel the tickle of a sore throat. After a week of being cooped up in the house, we were both itching to stretch our legs while also being socially responsible and keeping our distance from others. We planned an easy hike at Rapid Lightning Creek but clouds of very aggressive mosquitos ran us out before half a mile.

Unsure of where to try next, Kyle suggested a drive along a segment of the Idaho BDR - a backcountry route for motorcyclists. Encouraged by the good roads, we climbed up and up in my little Subaru until we reached the last remaining patch of snow on Lunch Peak. We pulled over and walked the last little bit of muddy and snowy road up to the lookout tower.

Originally built as a manned lookout tower in 1937, the Lunch Peak Lookout is now available to campers and hikers. While it didn’t look available to occupy when we were there, sources online say you can indeed book it for camping through recreation.gov. From the lookout, you can see the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains, Sandpoint, into eastern Washington, Canada, and even over to Glacier National Park on clear days.

Had we known this is where we would end up, we would have hiked the Pend Oreille Divide Trail which starts just below the lookout.

I noticed several areas with huckleberry bushes just off the road, and if you take the forest road back toward Clark Fork, Kyle said there’s a short hike to a waterfall.

This was a brief and unexpected visit, I hope to go back soon and either camp or spend the day hiking and taking in the views.

NOTE: We had excellent road conditions but I’m told they aren’t always so great. Be sure you’re in an offroad capable vehicle and if you have any concerns, check conditions before you go. The forest service website also notes that this area is heavily visited by bears and cougars, be sure to bring bear spray and stay aware of your surroundings.