Little Snowy Top Lookout Site

In 1930, the L-4 cab was built. It escaped being destroyed in the 1960s due to its remote location and questions of ownership, as it had been staffed by the Sullivan Lake Ranger District, as part of their administration of a small corner of the Priest Lake district.

In 1982, the Forest Service donated the tower to the city of Priest River with the provision that the city incur the cost of having the tower moved to Priest River. But apparent attempts by the Forest Service and the Priest River Chamber of Commerce to have the tower moved have failed.

In 1983, District Ranger Ralph Wheeler asked that the City release its interest in the Little Snowy Lookout Tower.

From 1987 to 1989, volunteer crews worked to a complete restoration of the structure. Some involved were the Spokane Mountaineers, Priest River Back Country Horseman and the Priest Lake Ranger District. They removed old flooring, put window frames in place, laid down a new hardwood floor, installed an antique wood stove, paint, etc.

In 2006, the Hughes 32 Fire threatened the lookout. Retardant was applied near the lookout, and then a few days later the lookout was wrapped with fire resistant wrap. Addtiionally, helicopters dropped water from Upper Priest Lake on the lookout.

In 2016, the cabin burned to the ground on the afternoon of September 3. A member of the public reported the fire to the Northeast Washington Interagency Communications Center. The Coeur d’Alene Interagency Dispatch Center immediately dispatched firefighters to the tower by helicopter. Unfortunately, the structure was completely engulfed in flames and could not be saved. The fire did not escape the immediate area and was completely contained. Law enforcement officials from the Idaho Panhandle National Forests lead the investigation with assistance from law enforcement officials on the Colville National Forest, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The fire was believed to be the result of carelessness of people using the building for shelter.