North Mountain Fire Lookout

Located on the north edge of Darrington, North Mountain has 2,240 feet of prominence, making it the 109th most prominent mountain in Washington. On the summit is the North Mountain Fire Lookout.

From Darrington, go north on Highway 530 for 0.6 miles. Take a left on FS-2810. This road is across from Boyd Road, at a sign that says “Darrington Welcomes You”. The paved road passes Whitehorse County Park, and then becomes a narrow paved one lane with pullouts. The pavement ends a 2.7 miles where you take a right at a Y. Now follow the map as the road does many long switchbacks toward the summit. There are often logging operations going on but DNR foresters say they usually try to keep the road open. Follow the gravel road to the gate and beyond to the lookout if possible. The Forest Service has placed a gate just over a mile before the summit to keep the lookout from being vandalized. Sometimes the gate is open, if so, no signs prevent one from continuing to the summit.

Distance: Drive-up or 1.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 0 or 400 feet
Summit Elevation: 3,824 feet
Access: Good Gravel to the top

Mount Higgins & Bald Mountain

Prairie Mountain, WhiteChuck Mountain, Pugh Mountain

East up the Suiattle River Valley

North Mountain Lookout

Looking NW to Mount Baker

Looking south to the forested highpoint

South to Whitehorse Mountain

In 1962, a tent lookout with firefinder was established on the summit, which is a super late year for tent lookouts. In 1966, a 41 foot timber tower was built with an R-6 flat-roof cab. The lookout was active through the 1980's. The tower was (and still is) plagued by vandalism as it sat occasionally being used on an emergency basis.

As early as 1998, Gary Weber transported a nearly complete set of window frames from the Clearwater NF in Idaho for use in the already-proposed North Mountain restoration.
In 2009, a list of project proposals for the Darrington Ranger District included the removal of the North Mountain Lookout. Several radio repeaters had occupied the site but all had been removed except one USFS repeater on the tower. That repeater was proposed to be moved to another site. Due to deteriorating condition from age, weather damage, and recurrent vandalism, the structure became a safety hazard and was officially closed to the public. Although restoration had been proposed for over ten years, it never got started. The district was asking for comments and the FFLA was requesting a project leader to take it on. So in 2009, Forrest Clark started discussions at the prospect of restoration with the Darrington Ranger District and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie NF officials. The windows were long destroyed and the structure looked roughed up but the 41-foot R-6 flat top was still structurally sound. Restoration ideas started during a first meeting in 2013 of the Friends of North Mountain. Restoration work in 2015 lead by Forrest Clark included a reroof, fixing concrete piers, rebuilding the toilet, demolishing two inter-tower structures and much more. Restoration work continued in the summer of 2017 although somewhat hampered by high heat and Smokey conditions from BC fires. Once the restoration is completed, the Friends of North Mountain will implement a rental system that, after the initial investment, will cover it's maintenance and operating expenses for years to come. Guests will have the use of propane for heat and cooking as well as panoramic windows and a wraparound catwalk to take in the scenery.

WillhiteWeb.com - Washington Fire Lookouts