Grizzly Mountain Lookout Site

Lookout Elevation: 5,950 feet (true summit is 5,971)
Hiking Distance: 1.5 miles one-way
Elevation Gain: 650 feet (to lookout site)
County: Shoshone
Prominence: 2,293 feet (nearby true summit)

Several decent forest roads reach the trailhead area but are subject to all kinds of washouts. The final spur road (260) had multiple trees down during my visit and few vehicles could maneuver what I did to reach the official trailhead. A few hikers had parked back at the start of the spur. The trail is easy to follow to the summits.

In 1914, a 12x12 foot stone and frame cabin was the first lookout established on the Coeur d'Alene National Forest.

In August 1928, we have the following quote from an Inspection Report: Ranger Hand informed me that he was cutting the logs for a lookout house similar to the Cougar Mountain building at Grizzly Peak, and that he had an allotment of $350 to cover the cost of the material, it being planned to put up the house in 1929. After looking over the plans for the L2 and L4 type of house, Hand stated that he felt that the L4 type was fully satisfactory for Grizzly, and he would like to build according to that plan. Considering the favorable opportunity locally to secure lumber at very reasonable prices, it appears possible to build according to the L4 plan at a cost for material and labor of not much over $350. The house could be finished and occupied by July 15, 1929, which is an additional argument in favor of a change of plan. Later in discussing the possibility of a change of plan with Assistant Supervisor Roche, he stated that he thought he would want to build a tower on Grizzly in order to increase the lookouts efficiency.

In 1929, a cupola cabin was built. (Kresek inventory also suggested 4 crows nest tree platforms along the ridge that still might exist).

In 1955, the lookout was abandoned.

Hiking the trail (old road) to the summit

Old lookout foundation

East from the Grizzly Mountain Lookout site

From the lookout site, looking over to the Grizzly Mountain highpoint

West from the Grizzly Mountain Lookout site

Southwest from the Grizzly Mountain Lookout site

Cairn at the highpoint

Hiking to the highpoint

Looking South from the highpoint to Kellogg Peak in the far distance

From the highpoint looking to the lookout site

North from Grizzly Mountain

Southeast from Grizzly Mountain