White Chuck Bench Former Lookout Site

White Chuck Bench was a low elevation lookout built in 1935, on a 20 foot pole tower with some kind of cab on top. The July 22, 1935 photo survey panoramic photos taken at the lookout site show the lookout under construction. As the images show, the entire flat bench is completely harvested of trees offering 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape. The photos were not taken on the exact location of the lookout but around 100 feet away. Today, most of White Chuck Bench has re-grown into a mature 2nd growth forest, with some 3rd growth in places on the edges. This lookout may have been used primarily for training purposes. The lookout had a near line of sight to the area of the Darrington Ranger Station lookout school, which also had a training tower. Rangers in training could take the azimuth, vertical angle and STR location between the two. One source said rangers would go up in the hills above both lookouts and light off smudge pots to create smokes that both lookouts would practice taking sights on. He believed the site was a drive-in and was never lived in, so there probably won't be an outhouse and since the lookout was removed and not burned, there won't be any relics lying around. Whitechuck Bench was used by the AWS during WWII. AWS funds were used to build living quarters, a 10x20 foot cabin. This cabin was retained after the war for use at the lookout site. The lookout was sold and removed in 1955 by a private party for a vacation cabin. As for the exact spot where the former lookout stood, I have not been able to determine after 2 visits but the newest picture below gives a very good idea of the location. Most pole towers did not have much for footings so finding anything is tough. The lookout was in the area of the lower rock quarry, so the site may be totally gone.

Elevation: 1,120ish
Distance: Near Road
Elevation Gain: Very little
Road Access: Mostly Paved, then good gravel

To get get to White Chuck Pit: From the Darrington Ranger Station drive south on the mountain Loop Highway for 10 miles, and turn left over the White Chuck Bridge onto FS Road #22. Not far past the bridge is the White Chuck Boat Launch. Continue past doing a switchback and starting to climb the hill. Before reaching the top of the hill, the gravel pit will be on your left. This is the likely location. A bit further is a viewpoint on the right and then an upper gravel pit on the left before reaching the top of the bench. The White Chuck Trailhead is a bit further up the road.

Nearby White Chuck Bench Trailhead

White Chuck Bench Parking (was not here)

1930's era map calling the lookout Black Oak instead of White Chuck Bench

Zoom of the structure

Looking North - 1935

Looking Southwest - 1935

Looking Southeast - 1935

This map will be updated once location is found, area of lookout is now just at the south end of the polygon.

Lidar showing the south end of the bench and the rock pit that changed the hillside.

AWS map showing Whitechuck

List of what to do with after the war. Whitechuck was in Mt. Baker National Forest on Forest Service land, an existing station that was Winterized, to be retained for the forest service. 10x20 sleeping quarters added with AWS funds.

AWS accessibility document

Another document showing a cabin was built at the Whitechuck Lookout with AWS funds.

AWS observers were Nels Skaar and Elmer E. Linn

Whitechuck Lookout and mountain in the distance.