Deer Ridge Lookout

6286 MAIN STREET
BONNERS FERRY, ID 83805

Overview

Deer Ridge Lookout, perched on a 40 foot timber frame, boasts excellent views of the Purcell mountain ranges of Northern Idaho, Canada and Montana. Located 24 miles northeast of Bonners Ferry, guests can enjoy magnificent scenery, hiking and wildlife watching.

The lookout can be accessed by car and the gravel road to the lookout is well maintained.

Recreation

Hiking and viewing the scenery are two well-loved activities at the facility. Hiking trails from the lookout follow along the Deer Ridge and Ruby Ridge. Huckleberry picking is enjoyed from August to September.

Fly fishing is available in the Moyie River, where anglers can cast for rainbow and brook trout. Make sure to check all regulations and secure all permits with the local Fish and Wildlife department before heading out.

Facilities

The 14' X 14' cabin has a wraparound catwalk, with a trap door that lifts for access to the tower's entrance staircase. The staircase is steep and is not recommended for small children. Furnishings include two twin beds, two chairs, a dresser and a table. A pit toilet is located 50 yards away.

No water is available. Guests should bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking and washing. Cooking is not permitted in the lookout. All cooking should be done outside and at ground level. Guests should bring a tarp to block the rain. Other items to bring include bedding, a first aid kit, towels and flashlights.

Natural Features

The Lower Kootenai River Area (Bonners Ferry District) is bordered by the Purcell and Cabinet Ranges and the Montana Line on the east, the rugged Selkirk Range on the west, and the Canadian border to the north.

The Kootenai River meanders north and west through the District, and the Moyie River joins it from the north. Peaks are moderate in elevation (6000 - 7000 ft.) but are rugged due to heavy glaciation. They are renowned for their mountaineering challenge.

The lookout is perched atop Deer Ridge at an elevation of 4,755 feet. The view from the facility includes the rugged Purcell mountain peaks and the beautiful Moyie River Valley and Moyie Springs.

Elk, deer and black bears are among the wildlife in the area. Please be aware of and practice bear safety.

Nearby Attractions

The nearest town for groceries is Bonners Ferry, about 24 miles from the lookout.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Largest party: 4 people

Directions

Take Highway 95/2 north from the Bonners Ferry Ranger Station for 5 miles. Turn right onto Highway 2 and head east for 2 miles. Turn left onto Meadow Creek Road and head north and east for 10 miles to the bridge over the Moyie River. Turn right onto Road 2541 (Placer Creek Road) and go east 1.5 miles. Next, drive north on Road 2540 for 6 miles until the road ends at Deer Ridge Lookout.

Stay Limit

Check in from 1 PM, check out by 11 AM.

Reviews

24 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

Danyelle K

Loop:Area Deer Ridge Lookout

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Very clean. two beds with mattresses. fire pit down below. got a call a day before with the code. We had a great time!!

Joel K

Loop:Area Deer Ridge Lookout

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

We did a roadtrip visiting and stay in 7 different fire lookouts 7 days in a row, bringing our cat along with us. If you want more information about that, find me on YouTube @JoelKalich. Location and Access: We had no issues accessing the lookout, the code worked as expected. The road was rough in places, but was no problem for my lifted Volvo XC70. I expect a stock Subaru Outback would be fine to get up here and maybe a sedan or the like if you're careful, though the last 50 feet are very rough, you might just have to park slightly further away. The lookout: We had no issues getting into the lookout, the code worked well. It was clean and ready to use. The height of this tower is a standout feature, as it was the tallest lookout tower on our trip at 40'. The interior of the lookout has been well looked after and was in excellent condition. The main table for cards and whatnot is a dining-room-style table and worked well. The beds were some of the comfiest on our journey. The toilet was relatively nearby and easy to access. The toilet itself was clean and well stocked with TP for us. Views at this lookout are not 360 degrees, but more like 270, as it's at the end of a ridge, but what views you do have are great. We did bemoan the lack of window screens, or at least our cat did, as it meant she had to wear her harness the whole time, so we could open the windows to keep it cool in there.

Susan S

Loop:Area Deer Ridge Lookout

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Clean, well maintained lookout. Easy drive to base and fairly close to town. View was great, though a little smoky. No extras like flashlight, garbage bags, paper towels so bring everything you need. No cooking in lookout so plan accordingly. Great experience and very clean!

Nicole R

Loop:Area Deer Ridge Lookout

Site:

Reviewed 4 months ago

Double check the directions - super quick if you get them right! Huckleberries and strawberries! Nice and relaxing.

David V

Loop:Area Deer Ridge Lookout

Site:

Reviewed 5 months ago

Lookout was great. Clean and upkept

Daria C

Loop:Area Deer Ridge Lookout

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

Such a beautiful lookout stay! Accessible even for most regular vehicles. Such a beautiful facility and everyone who has stayed there has taken care to keep the lookout cleaner than they found it. There’s a pulley system which was SUPER handy. You might want to bring some leather gloves to help prevent rope burn while belaying your belonging back down. The top staircase could use some attention making sure it’s attached to the structure where the top of the stairs meet the lookout deck. Windows on all sides to air it out, so even on a 94 degree day we were able to cool the lookout down nicely.

Availability

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