Black Butte Lookout

BOU AVENUE
Black Butte Lookout

With an unsettled weather forecast on 4 July 2022, Zosia Zgolak and I opted to do a short, non-committing hike up Black Butte located in Kootenai National Forest just west of Eureka, Montana. An active fire lookout tower and various telecommunications infrastructure sit atop Black Butte, and consequently, a well-maintained service road runs all the way to the top albeit in a rather circuitous way.

From Highway 93 near the south end of Eureka, turn southwest onto Tobacco Road and drive 1.0 kilometre to the junction with Othorp Lake Road. Drive 8.0 kilometres and veer right onto Pinkham Creek Road. Drive another 1.7 kilometres before turning right onto forestry road 7185 (2WD gravel). A sign here states that the lookout is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM but is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Drive 2.2 kilometres and park in a pullout just before a locked gate.

Starting from the locked gate, Zosia and I simply walked up the service road all the way to the top. The road makes a couple of seemingly long-winded spirals before ending at the base of the lookout tower. A picnic table, trash can, and convenient vault toilet are nearby, and there is even free Wi-Fi available here. The lookout tower was not manned on this day, and we could only climb as far as the last set of stairs under the tower balcony.

After poking around the top for nearly an hour, Zosia and I took a more direct descent route down the west side of Black Butte. This shaved off a fair bit of distance, and we made it back to the locked gate in only half the time it took us to walk up the service road. We subsequently drove back to Highway 93 using a different route (MT 37) and then returned to Canada through the border crossing at Roosville.

It wouldn't stop a motorcycle!
A locked gate prevents further access up the service road with public motorized vehicles.

I wish I had my e-bike!
The walk up the service road is easy and pleasant.

I thought this was a false dandelion! A yellow salsify blooms alongside the road.
Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

There's free Wi-Fi here!
Zosia climbs up the lookout tower on top of Black Butte (1237 metres).

We were able to climb an additional 11 metres higher to this point!
The passageway to the top of the lookout tower is unfortunately locked.
Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

There are lots of other little lakes here that we cannot see from this vantage point. Part of Othorp Lake is visible to the southeast.

Smile, you're on candid camera! Zosia carefully descends the lookout tower stairs.

Best view of the day!

Garnering all the attention to the northwest is Lake Koocanusa.

Those clouds hide some mountains that are of interest to me...

Unfortunately, most of the mountains to the northeast are obscured by clouds on this day. However, the town of Eureka is visible at distant right, and part of Black Lake can be seen at lower left.

	Sonny and Zosia celebrate The Fourth of July (US Independence Day) on top of Black Butte with the closest thing they have to an American flag.
	Total Distance: 3.8 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 1 hour 53 minutes Net Elevation Gain: 170 metres GPX Data

	A locked gate prevents further access up the service road with public motorized vehicles.
	The walk up the service road is easy and pleasant.
	A yellow salsify blooms alongside the road. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia climbs up the lookout tower on top of Black Butte (1237 metres).
	The passageway to the top of the lookout tower is unfortunately locked. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Part of Othorp Lake is visible to the southeast.
	Zosia carefully descends the lookout tower stairs.