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Steamboat Mountain
Steamboat is an easy hike with a summit that was a former lookout site. Steamboat Mountain has 1,484 feet of prominence but the trail only climbs 600 feet from the parking area in well under a mile. From the summit, you can look right down to the trailhead.
Distance: 3/4 mile
Summit Elevations: 5,425 feet
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Access: Good Gravel
From the Gorge in Carson, go north on Wind River Road for 16 miles. Turn right onto Lone Butte Road for around 10 miles passing Tillicum Campground and Mosquito Lake. Turn left on gravel road (east to follow if you have map) and follow for just over 2 miles to a huge quarry and the trailhead. From the north, it's much more complicated, take FR 23 south out of Randle to FR 90. Take FR 88 up and over to Big Tire Junction, turn right on FR 885 (Lone Butte Road), follow to the gravel turn-off (you'll need a Gazetteer). You can also come in from the west through the south side of Mt. St. Helens.
Route:
Access:
Easy trail leads to the top, just follow trail.
Looking east from the summit
Trail up Steamboat Mountain
Trail up Steamboat Mountain
Lookout site
Summit Benchmark
Looking down to the trailhead
South from the summit to Lemei Rock, Bird Mountain and Sawtooth Mountain
Trailhead and summit
Lookout History:
In 1928, a cathedral style lookout was built.
In 1929, panoramic images were taken from the upper level of the structure.
In 1930, a story written by E.G. Hayes said that on Steamboat Mountain one of the newer styles of lookout stations was built having an eight-foot tower, 18 feet high, with glass walls, and a lean-to 12 x 14, with austere furnishings.
In 1937, the USGS placed a benchmark was placed on the summit.
In 1953, during an August visit, Claudia Quackenbush ran a wire in her eye while visiting her sister on Steamboat Lookout.
In 1956, a 20-foot timber tower with R-6 flat cab was built. It was staffed for about 10 years.
In 1964, Steamboat Mountain Lookout was the only manned lookout in Mt. Adams district, and only 1 out of the six staffed of 37 lookout stations in Gifford Pinchot National Forest that year.
By 1966, the lookout was removed by burning. Burned by Forest Service employee Bill Moran.
Steamboat Lookout 1964
Steamboat Lookout 1965
Steamboat Lookout 1966
Steamboat Lookout 1934ish
1939 Recreation Map
1931 map showing Steamboat Mountain Lookout Station
1940 Columbia National Forest map
1932 Columbia National Forest map
An article in National Geographic Magazine by a lookout person who spent summers at Steamboat, Flattop and Sleeping Beauty in the early 1940s.
I cut to the parts related to Steamboat Mountain Lookout.
Image in the National Geographic Magazine article
1950 view to Mt. St. Helens
Northwest View 1929
South View 1929
Northeast View 1929
