Granite Butte Lookout

$45.00/night

1569 Highway 200
Lincoln, MT 59639

Overview

The Granite Butte Lookout is located at 7,587 feet above sea level atop the Continental Divide of North America. The 15' by 15' lookout cabin sits atop a 20' tall wooden tower that was first built in 1932. The structure was rebuilt in 1962 and has been recently renovated. This tower was listed on the national register of historic lookouts in 2008 and offers guests a glimpse into the life of a Forest Service Lookout. Located near Lincoln, MT the lookout offers direct access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail which stretches along the back bone of the continent from Canada to Mexico. It is accessible by vehicle, but be forewarned, the road is rough towards the end and high-clearance vehicles are recommended. The lookout has the basic amenities including a bed, auxiliary cots, tables, chairs, dishes, cutlery, and a woodstove are provided, but guests should prepare to bring their own bedding, water, and propane.

Recreation

The Continental Divide Trail passes right by the lookout tower and offers guests access to as many miles as they care to hike, bike, or ride on horseback. There are several other trails for guests to explore within a 1/2 hour drive. The cabin also offers winter recreation opportunities with cross-country skiing opportunities out the back door and nearby access to over 200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails.

Facilities

The lookout is furnished with one twin bed with a mattress and three twin cots. The lookout can accommodate a maximum of four people. The lookout is equipped with a table, chairs, woodstove, propane cook stove, propane powered lanterns, silverware and dishes. An axe and splitting maul are available for splitting wood and firewood will usually be stacked at the base of the tower, but it is not guaranteed. The lookout does not have electricity or indoor plumbing. A vault toilet is on-site near the lookout. Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking and washing. Guests are advised to bring sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, propane, garbage bags and other personal effects. All garbage must be packed out and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving. A broom and cleaning supplies are provided.

Natural Features

The lookout is located atop a grassy ridge directly on the Continental Divide. The area around the cabin offers spectacular views, abundant wildflowers, high elevation white bark pine stands, open meadows, and large rock outcroppings. There are lower elevation conifer stands and streams located nearby as well.

Wildlife in the area abounds; including the more common elk, mule and white-tailed deer, squirrel, black bear, and a variety of birds. The more elusive grizzly bear, badger, wolverine, mountain lion, and lynx can be found here as well.

Nearby Attractions

The nearby town of Lincoln offers restaurants, bars, art galleries, a sculpture park, and many events that are put on in the community throughout the summer. Visitors can also access the scenic Blackfoot River and Copper Creek from town and the nearby area.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Fire pit: all 1 sites
Picnic table: all 1 sites
Pets allowed: all 1 sites
Largest party: 4 people

Directions

The lookout is located approximately 16 miles southeast of Lincoln. It can be reached via Stemple Pass Road #601, which leaves downtown Lincoln at the blinking light and joins Highway 279 north of Helena. Follow Stemple Pass Road for approximately 14 miles to the top of the pass and then turn onto Marsh Creek Road #485. Follow Marsh Creek Road south approximately 3 miles until the junction of the Granite Butte Road #4133. The road gets narrower and rougher at this point and climbs the final 1.5 miles up to the lookout tower. High clearance vehicles are strongly recommended for the Granite Butte Road #4133. During the winter months, the Stemple Pass Road is plowed in its entirety, but visitors will have to snowmobile or ski in the final 4.5 miles. There is plowed parking available at the Stemple Pass cross country ski area. There are two recommended routes into the lookout. One follows the road as outlined above and the other roughly follows the Continental Divide. If you are planning on snowmobiling into the lookout in the later winter months it is recommended that you take the upper route on the Continental Divide as the Marsh Creek Road develops large wind drifts that are generally impassable by snowmobiles. Please be sure to follow all applicable motorized use restrictions when accessing the lookout and only operate motorized vehicles where allowed. Maps of the ski and snowmobile routes are available at the Lincoln Ranger District and at the Stemple Pass Trailhead. Renters are advised to take a map with them if they are unfamiliar with the area.

Stay Limit

Check in from 1 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

69 reviews

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1 stars

ELB W

Loop:Granite Butte Lookout

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Let me start off by saying the facility itself exceeded my expectations. It was clean and really well stocked, full of games, water, firewood, some cooking stuff, even some bedding. If anything, it was too cluttered instead of understocked. There was way more there than I expected. The spot was breathtaking. I went up there to try and get photos of the Milky Way over night. It was a weekend and the weather cooperated perfectly for me. I suspect it's normally really windy up there, but once the sun set, it was perfect for night shots. The part that ruined the entire experience for me was the amount of other traffic up there. When I showed up, there were side by side riders already parked under the lookout tower. They were very confrontational. They were all drinking and they were all carrying a pistol. They didn't have the combination to access the top of the tower, but there were close to 10 or so people with chairs set up in the shade underneath the tower. They were being loud and without me even asking them to leave, they told me they were on public property and weren't going anywhere and that there wasn't anything I could do about it. They left a few hours later, then other people started showing up to watch the sunset. They even walked up to the lower level of the tower. The next day, CDT hikers started showing up early, while I was trying to sleep in from being up in the night for photos. The hikers were VERY friendly and mentioned several times that they had looked for a sign to see if it was a reservable or dedicated camp spot before they approached. It IS that, but there is no sign indicating the area is reservable or has been reserved. Unfortunately, having noisy people wandering around my campsite was enough to make me never want to go back and I honestly wouldn't recommend anyones else do so either. If I want to go catch the view, I'll just drive up there and catch it like everyone else instead of paying to use the spot that others are using for free.

Karla G

Loop:Granite Butte Lookout

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Lookout views are great. Taking the covers off/on the window is a bit of a pain but worth it. Wouldn’t rely on the cots, they are not sturdy & not comfortable, otherwise there’s one hard mattress with a soft cover. There’s no gate coming up to the lookout like the others I have stayed at - so it’s VERY busy, we had over a dozen people arrive before dinner on the full day we stayed between people watching sunrise, hikers, campers staying up there for the night & people just coming to check the views on their dirt bikes. Some people chatted in great length with us & some just snapped a pic & left - if you’re wanting to entertain passersby at the lookout this is the place to be. The lookout is very stocked with cooking supplies, camp stove, extra backpacking pads, utensils, camp chairs, games, extra food/drinks/water, & plenty of wood for the wood stove - which was very toasty for the chilly night.

Bryan L

Loop:Granite Butte Lookout

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Incredible experience! Spent 1 night. Stunning 360 views. Deer family came by to graze. Shout out to whoever left hiker meals, beer, and pop-tarts. The weather changed fast - we arrived during a bit of lightning and fast winds. In 30 minutes it was peaceful and sunny just in time for sunset. Accommodations were as described and perfect. I highly recommend removing all the shutters - just know that getting them back is a bit tricky (they don't all fit in every window). Had 1 CDT hiker and 3 adventure bikers top the hill to enjoy the view and say hi, but left us alone. You won't regret it.

John D

Loop:Granite Butte Lookout

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

The fire tower upon arrival was clean,organized and well maintained. We were very excited to try this experience After unloading and hauling up all of our gear up the (What could only be described as The El Capitan stairs) we figured out very quickly THE WIND BLOWS!!! Nonstop!! It varied speed between a cat 5 hurricane and the twister that launched Dorothy down the yellow brick road!! Gusts in excess of 75 mph shaking the structure with such intensity that it made the guy wire cables(The only thing keeping this from landing in Billings) Sing like a rope over your head. We ate dinner and witnessed one of the most spectacular sunsets ever!! Then settled in for the night!! About an hour and a half later and unable to hear each other while lying in bed together we made the decision to decend El Capitan stairs in the pitch black with two dogs. Driving home after witnessing full water bottles shaking violently on the table and hearing what sounded like structural failure !! Be warned The Wind no 😂 ng matter!!! Everything else was really great though

Denise B

Loop:Granite Butte Lookout

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Reviewed 3 months ago

Beautiful! Great huck picking along road. Expect visitors!

Gates E

Loop:Granite Butte Lookout

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Incredible opportunity, with some of the best imaginable views possible. We loved it and would stay at another one in a heartbeat. I understand some of the people who stayed before us absolutely left the place a mess, which is a shame, much thanks to the people who stayed right before us and spent a lot of time cleaning up the place and making it look wonderful. Please everyone who stays there, take care of this treasure of a place!

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Popularity: Quiet

Busiest in November, when about 26% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 3 years of reservations.