HOME

Roundtop Mountain Lookout Site

This short hike at the edge of the Salmo-Priest Wilderness will quickly get you to some views. Access from the high pass allows the elevation gain to be reasonable for those not wanting anything too strenuous. This is the start of the Shedroof Divide Trail that runs nearly to Canada. The trail will start in a burn area offering views of the objective, Roundtop. As the trail gets closer, you enter back into forest missed by the fire but then near the summit, you break out into a large open grassy slope. At this point, leave the trail and climb directly up the grassy slope until you reach the summit. If you are super lucky, maybe you will run into a woodland caribou herd, the most endangered large mammal in the nation. If you are unlucky, you might run into a moose or grizzly bear, so be prepared, this is the wild part of Washington.

NE WA Lookouts

Lookouts HOME

Summit and Lookout Elevation: 6,466 feet
Hiking Distance: 3.2 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 1,066 feet
County: Pend Oreille

WillhiteWeb.com

Roundtop Mountain Lookout in 1930

In 1927, a D-6 cupola cabin was built. During this first year, Frank Algren survived a direct hit of lightning while sitting in his brand-new cabin. He was said to be so tough he never even bothered to pick the wood ticks off when they bored into him. Frank later on became a legend around the Selkirk country for his many peculiar ways.

In 1956, the cabin was removed or destroyed.

In 1964 a USGS party placed a benchmark on one of the old footings, saying that the footing was a 1-foot by 2-foot concrete post projecting 8 inches that was used for a foundation for an old lookout cabin.

Lookout History

1942 USGS, 1958 update. Shows Round Top Lookout and the Ace High Cabin site

Ace High Cabin

Metsker map showing the Ace High cabin site just north of Round Top

Ace High Cabin site in 2024

Not too far to the north, on the ridge was the Ace High Cabin. Due to the close proximity and that the cabin was on the ridge, I have included an image on this page and show it on the maps below. As far as I know, the cabin was not used specifically for fire but given the location on the ridge, it would not surprise me.

Ace High Ranger Cabin

From Lake Sullivan, follow Forest Service Road 22 to Pass Creek Pass. The unsigned trailhead is two-tenths of a mile down the east side of the pass. There is room for several cars to park a bit further.

Access