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Kootenai National Forest › Cabinet Ranger District › Montana
› Sanders County
› Trout Creek
› Minton Peak Lookout
› Campsite #1
Campsite #1 at Minton Peak Lookout, MT
$55
Cabin Site #1
| Drive-In | 4 people |
| 40 ft | Pull-Through |
| 0 | fair |
6/23
Campsite #1 Features: Drive-In access, Pull-Through parking, 40ft driveway, Fire ring, Cabin Site
Campsite Reviews (25)
5.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 76% |
| 4 star | | 24% |
| 3 star | | 0% |
| 2 star | | 0% |
| 1 star | | 0% |
@DougV4826603 · Camped on Aug 26, 2024 at Campsite #1
Great stay at this LO. Very clean and well maintained. Built a cairn (rock pile monument) as a marker of our fun time on Minton Peak. Directions to the LO were a little confusing at the Minton Peak Rd. The LO sign points right towards Marten Creek Road. You should turn left. We will be back again. Hopefully during huckleberry picking time.
@PaulP7190708 · Camped on Aug 13, 2024 at Campsite #1
Had some difficulty finding the lookout. otherwise had a great stay .
@JanaeM81C684A2 · Camped on Jul 11, 2024 at Campsite #1
4th time staying at Minton. Its always enjoyable! I love the drive here- its gorgeous to see so many mountain ranges. Didnt see much wildlife. Had a nice night with campfire and roasted smokies and smores! Such a beautiful sunset and sunrise. The peace I feel here is amazing. Great meditation spot. Will def be back. This is one of my personal favorites. Thank you for all who do their part to clean up after your stay. This tower was much cleaner than others Ive stayed in. Please, future guests, plan to clean up after yourselves... this is what keeps us being able to enjoy these amazing experiences! Til next time! XOXOX
@MistyG7051099 · Camped on Jul 7, 2024 at Campsite #1
The bugs and heat are almost too much in July. We want to try this in cooler months. It is a beautiful lookout and handy with the camp stove in it. We did enjoy our time but yeah bugs and heat was annoying. Drive up is doable in anything you drive. It is a beautiful location.
@SamanthaG47815 · Camped on Jul 23, 2023 at Campsite #1
Our family of 3 enjoyed the lookout!! The views are amazing, 2 comfy twin beds and desk with cards/ games.
@DwayneM6159284 · Camped on Sep 9, 2022 at Campsite #1
Perfect
@JammieS1927886 · Camped on Aug 28, 2022 at Campsite #1
Great Little Last Minute getaway.
@JeremyR5922528 · Camped on Jun 25, 2022 at Campsite #1
Amazing views and neat little place to stay!
@RobertP6375002 · Camped on Sep 17, 2021 at Campsite #1
The good:
Wonderful place! Nice views and parking area.
No problem driving a car but it is a ways off the main road. Gated entry with a bar and sign across the road to discourage visitors.
People take very good care of this place with a good amount of cleaning supplies. Please use water sparingly on the floors. It appears when they did the remodel a few years ago the laminate flooring was a cheap brand as it is separating and warping due to too much moisture.
Fire pit by parking area. Lots of wood while we were there. Picnic bench too.
Good wood stove.
There were two twin beds.
Rare that the catwalk goes all the way around since the lookout is on the ground and you use just a few steps to access. A nice thing to have.
There was a small 2 burner propane burner stove with fuel. Bring some standard camping fuel bottles in case there are none there during your stay.
If you plan on leaving for a hike or run into town make sure you that you have brought you own personal lock. I can't say more than that.
Nice ADA clean pit toilet. We were surprised how clean it was.
SW of the lookout nearby in the woods is an old pit toilet covered with boards and rock. There is also a big corrugated pipe that goes way down that has some logs tossed in for safety. We wonder what that was used for.
We would stay there again for sure!
The bad:
Since trees have been allowed to grow around the lookout you only get good views in two directions.
There is only one bench seat without a back and one camp chair with a back that has been donated.
One window is boarded over due to breakage. Hope they will fix it soon.
No Verizon cell phone service hear or even nearby. We had no cell service in the town of Trout Creek and did not have any until almost all the way into Thompson Falls.
Wonderful place! Nice views and parking area.
No problem driving a car but it is a ways off the main road. Gated entry with a bar and sign across the road to discourage visitors.
People take very good care of this place with a good amount of cleaning supplies. Please use water sparingly on the floors. It appears when they did the remodel a few years ago the laminate flooring was a cheap brand as it is separating and warping due to too much moisture.
Fire pit by parking area. Lots of wood while we were there. Picnic bench too.
Good wood stove.
There were two twin beds.
Rare that the catwalk goes all the way around since the lookout is on the ground and you use just a few steps to access. A nice thing to have.
There was a small 2 burner propane burner stove with fuel. Bring some standard camping fuel bottles in case there are none there during your stay.
If you plan on leaving for a hike or run into town make sure you that you have brought you own personal lock. I can't say more than that.
Nice ADA clean pit toilet. We were surprised how clean it was.
SW of the lookout nearby in the woods is an old pit toilet covered with boards and rock. There is also a big corrugated pipe that goes way down that has some logs tossed in for safety. We wonder what that was used for.
We would stay there again for sure!
The bad:
Since trees have been allowed to grow around the lookout you only get good views in two directions.
There is only one bench seat without a back and one camp chair with a back that has been donated.
One window is boarded over due to breakage. Hope they will fix it soon.
No Verizon cell phone service hear or even nearby. We had no cell service in the town of Trout Creek and did not have any until almost all the way into Thompson Falls.
@RobertP952 · Camped on Sep 17, 2021 at Campsite #1
The good:
Wonderful place! Nice views and parking area.
No problem driving a car but it is a ways off the main road. Gated entry with a bar and sign across the road to discourage visitors.
People take very good care of this place with a good amount of cleaning supplies. Please use water sparingly on the floors. It appears when they did the remodel a few years ago the laminate flooring was a cheap brand as it is separating and warping due to too much moisture.
Fire pit by parking area. Lots of wood while we were there. Picnic bench too.
Good wood stove.
There were two twin beds.
Rare that the catwalk goes all the way around since the lookout is on the ground and you use just a few steps to access. A nice thing to have.
There was a small 2 burner propane burner stove with fuel. Bring some standard camping fuel bottles in case there are none there during your stay.
If you plan on leaving for a hike or run into town make sure you that you have brought you own personal lock. I can't say more than that.
Nice ADA clean pit toilet. We were surprised how clean it was.
SW of the lookout nearby in the woods is an old pit toilet covered with boards and rock. There is also a big corrugated pipe that goes way down that has some logs tossed in for safety. We wonder what that was used for.
We would stay there again for sure!
The bad:
Since trees have been allowed to grow around the lookout you only get good views in two directions.
There is only one bench seat without a back and one camp chair with a back that has been donated.
One window is boarded over due to breakage. Hope they will fix it soon.
No Verizon cell phone service hear or even nearby. We had no cell service in the town of Trout Creek and did not have any until almost all the way into Thompson Falls.
Wonderful place! Nice views and parking area.
No problem driving a car but it is a ways off the main road. Gated entry with a bar and sign across the road to discourage visitors.
People take very good care of this place with a good amount of cleaning supplies. Please use water sparingly on the floors. It appears when they did the remodel a few years ago the laminate flooring was a cheap brand as it is separating and warping due to too much moisture.
Fire pit by parking area. Lots of wood while we were there. Picnic bench too.
Good wood stove.
There were two twin beds.
Rare that the catwalk goes all the way around since the lookout is on the ground and you use just a few steps to access. A nice thing to have.
There was a small 2 burner propane burner stove with fuel. Bring some standard camping fuel bottles in case there are none there during your stay.
If you plan on leaving for a hike or run into town make sure you that you have brought you own personal lock. I can't say more than that.
Nice ADA clean pit toilet. We were surprised how clean it was.
SW of the lookout nearby in the woods is an old pit toilet covered with boards and rock. There is also a big corrugated pipe that goes way down that has some logs tossed in for safety. We wonder what that was used for.
We would stay there again for sure!
The bad:
Since trees have been allowed to grow around the lookout you only get good views in two directions.
There is only one bench seat without a back and one camp chair with a back that has been donated.
One window is boarded over due to breakage. Hope they will fix it soon.
No Verizon cell phone service hear or even nearby. We had no cell service in the town of Trout Creek and did not have any until almost all the way into Thompson Falls.
@RichardS712869 · Camped on Aug 9, 2021 at Campsite #1
very clean. mostly good views as the trees have grown taller. great access road. need a hard back chair not just a bench. no guest log book to denote comments.
@RichardS438 · Camped on Aug 9, 2021 at Campsite #1
very clean. mostly good views as the trees have grown taller. great access road. need a hard back chair not just a bench. no guest log book to denote comments.
@PamP742 · Camped on Jul 26, 2021 at Campsite #1
Beautiful scenery and well maintained. Some kind soul left a propane stove. In addition, there are games and magazines. Great visit!
@PamP4615940 · Camped on Jul 26, 2021 at Campsite #1
Beautiful scenery and well maintained. Some kind soul left a propane stove. In addition, there are games and magazines. Great visit!
@JulieV1468906 · Camped on Oct 7, 2020 at Campsite #1
What a hidden jewel in this lookout!!! Nicely updated & clean plus a nice fire pit outside
@JulieV383 · Camped on Oct 7, 2020 at Campsite #1
What a hidden jewel in this lookout!!! Nicely updated & clean plus a nice fire pit outside
@BrandonJ353 · Camped on Sep 10, 2020 at Campsite #1
Good roads, drive to tower. nice facility and good management by ranger station. We stayed while hunting for a couple days and thoroughly enjoyed it. No cell coverage with Verizon, not even by the rock monument :-)
@BrandonJ348803 · Camped on Sep 10, 2020 at Campsite #1
Good roads, drive to tower. nice facility and good management by ranger station. We stayed while hunting for a couple days and thoroughly enjoyed it. No cell coverage with Verizon, not even by the rock monument :-)
@TraceyH808 · Camped on Sep 7, 2020 at Campsite #1
The drive up to the Lookout was very nice but high winds brought down a few trees. Lucky for us a few local hunters came prepared and quickly cut down the tree blocking the road. That said - the winds were VERY high that night and we were not able to have outside activities. The Lookout was exceptionally clean and well taken care of - gorgeous views and we had a great time.
@TraceyH7106951 · Camped on Sep 7, 2020 at Campsite #1
The drive up to the Lookout was very nice but high winds brought down a few trees. Lucky for us a few local hunters came prepared and quickly cut down the tree blocking the road. That said - the winds were VERY high that night and we were not able to have outside activities. The Lookout was exceptionally clean and well taken care of - gorgeous views and we had a great time.
@LaurenC8727476 · Camped on Sep 4, 2020 at Campsite #1
Great.
@LaurenC225 · Camped on Sep 4, 2020 at Campsite #1
Great.
@JoshuaS661 · Camped on Aug 4, 2020 at Campsite #1
By far my favorite lookout! The cabin is super clean and updated with fresh paint and laminate floors. The views are amazing and pretty easy getting to the cabin. The pit toilet is also probably the cleanest one we have seen at a lookout facility! Plenty of area around the cabin for activities as well. Every time we have been here the Forest Service has plenty of firewood for the fire pit and stove in the cabin. Thank you FS for this amazing facility and taking such great care of it! I will absolutely be back!
Tip- It is very hard to find cell service up there. There is one spot we found past the gate on the way down from the lookout on one of the rock out cropping you can see coming down the lookout road. If you are a skilled enough explorer, we built a small rock tower to mark the exact location. Happy hunting!
Tip- It is very hard to find cell service up there. There is one spot we found past the gate on the way down from the lookout on one of the rock out cropping you can see coming down the lookout road. If you are a skilled enough explorer, we built a small rock tower to mark the exact location. Happy hunting!
@MarilynS810 · Camped on Jul 19, 2020 at Campsite #1
very relaxing
@RANDALLB158 · Camped on Jul 10, 2020 at Campsite #1
Minton Lookout is in excellent condition. Beautiful view over the Clark Fork River with the Cabinet Mountains in the background. We had a great stay with a moonless night, brilliant stars and a good look at the NEOWISE comet in the pre-dawn sky.
map icon in the lower right corner.
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