Remmel Mountain Lookout Site - Pasayten Wilderness

The highest trail in Washington goes up Remmel Mountain. It was the highest when constructed, probably in the 1920s and has remained since. Remmel Mountain is also the 14th most prominent peak in Washington with 4,367 feet of rise. Remmel is also the 35th highest mountain in Washington State. A former lookout once stood on the summit, which is the reason for a nice trail going there. The lookout was even used during WWII as an Aircraft warning Service Station for the short time of July and August 1942. The first lookout building on the summit is unclear. A 1904 International Boundary Commission party reported a trail up and a lookout house on the summit. If true, this would be one of the first in Washington. Other survey parties reported a lookout building and trail in 1925. The lookout inventory suggests a ground-mounted cab was built in 1930 and destroyed in 1952. A 1950 survey party said the lookout house was a 14 foot square wooden building with a gable roof with the outside of the building painted white and the roof was painted red. They said the Forest Service had abandoned the lookout house for service due to the safety factors involved. An interesting news blurb on August 10, 1932 in the Wenatchee Daily World sums up this lookout site…."Sitting on top of the world is a literal fact for the man stationed at the Remmel Mountain lookout station. It is the highest lookout in the Chelan National Forest. Its altitude being 8,690 feet. Remmel Mountain is located in the extreme northern part of Okanogan County in an almost inaccessible region. On a clear day a view of thousands of square miles of country can be obtained from the peak, but when mountain storms start lashing the rocky pinnacle, and the air becomes saturated with lightning, the life of a lookout loses much of its romance."
The access up to the 1950s was from Andrews Creek and a trail that climbed up to the Coleman Ridge trail just before Remmel. If the weather is good, you could camp just below the summit on a knob used in the past by USGS helicopters.

Elevation: 8,685 feet
Hiking Distance: 16ish miles one way
Elevation gain: 5,500 feet
Access: Good gravel roads

Three possible trailheads can be used, Thirtymile, Cathedral Driveway and Andrews Creek. Trail conditions and fires might dictate which you use. Andrews Creek was burned and closed for many years but it is the quickest. Thirtymile Trailhead takes you up the Chewuch River Trail and has two options, Fire Creek (possible fire damage still) and Four Point Creek. Both can allow for a loop. The Cathedral Driveway cuts off 3 miles but 1300 feet to hike back up upon your return. This route is only best if doing a loop that includes Windy Peak. The most enjoyable way would be to camp at Four Point Lake, fish and stroll up to the summit for an evening sunset or maybe a morning stroll.

Looking North - September 17, 1934

Looking Southeast - September 17, 1934

Looking Southwest - September 17, 1934

Remmel Mountain Fire Lookout

Remmel Mountain Lookout use as AWS on August 20, 1942

Remmel on the Aircraft Warning Service map during WWII

Looking south and Point 8,318

Remmel Benchmark 1924

Early Remmel Benchmark

Remmel Mountain from the north

Remmel Mountain Trail in basin at 7,200 feet

Andrews Creek Valley