Blacktail Mountain and Butler Lookout

Be sure to take the correct trail at the start, it is the trail at the top of the parking. Follow the trail but soon you start to see two options. The old trail is steeper and goes more direct up the ridge. The newer trail is less steep and does more switchbacks. Both trails cross each other several times. In early season, the old trail has less snow to deal with. Once on the ridge, left to Butler or right to Blacktail. From the summit of Blacktail, continuing on the ridge to the next point has a better view of the lake.

From Hwy 95 while passing Cocolalla Lake, take Blacktail Road east up the hill. At a sharp curve in 1.5 miles or so, turn left onto NF 230. This dirt road ends at the Maiden Rock Trailhead after passing numerous spur roads to homes. The road is degraded in places most cars should be able to make it, except if muddy from snowmelt.

In 1926, this was a camp, possibly on the Blacktail Peak highpoint.
In 1927, a 10x10 foot cabin was built on the north end of ridge.
In 1931, the lookout Ben Butler was killed by lightning inside the lookout cabin. The location at the north end of Blacktail Mountain now known as Butler Mountain.
In 1936, a 40-foot tower with an L-4 cab was built on Butler Mountain.
In 1947, the tower was destroyed.

Ben Butler
On June 23, 1931, sometime after 5 p.m. a bolt of lightning instantly killed James Butler in the lookout house. The body was discovered about 6 p.m. the next day by forest service officials who went there to investigate why he did not answer the telephone. His body was found in the corner of the lookout where he had evidently been standing looking at the storm. The bolt of lightning passed along a guy wire anchoring the cabin, struck Ben on the right temple and the main part came out of his foot just below the ankle leaving a good sized hole indicating terrific voltage. Part of the electricity escaped through the other leg just above the knee. He had evidently been washing some clothes as there was a tub on the stove partially filled with water and the clothes were in a basin on the other side of the room. The floor near where he had stood was covered with water. He had called Stanley Lake, employee of the forest service before the storm around 4:45 saying there was a gad storm brewing and for them not to call him again. The next day Ben did not answer the phone. In route to investigate, halfway up the mountain Ranger Stanley Lake met Ben Butlers dog on the trail, and the two hastened to the cabin where they found Ben. The body was brought out by the sheriff Coroner Moon and a party of forest officials. Butler was 19 years of age and was the son of Mr. And Mrs. Edward Butler of Athol, Idaho. Butler's funeral was held at Athol at the Catholic church.

Elevation: 4,893 feet for Blacktail Mountain
Hiking Distance: 5.7 miles round-trip with all three sites
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet with all three sites
Prominence: 2,760 feet
County: Bonner
Access: Gravel and dirt road, wet in spring
(Also known as Bimetallic after Bimetallic Ridge)

Trailhead, trail maintained by motorcycle groups

Looking SW....see image below

All these are lookout sites, the left two in Washington State, right three in Idaho.

View south from Blacktail Mountain

View of Little Blacktail Mountain

Peaks with lookout sites to the Southeast

Views of Lake Pend Oreille from the viewpoint just south of the summit of Blacktail Mountain.

View from south of summit viewpoint

On the ridge in route to Butler Mountain Lookout site

Butler Mountain Lookout site has trees overgrowing views

Footing melting out of the snow

South Baldy Mountain in Washington State.