Bear Creek Mountain Lookout Site
WillhiteWeb.com: Fire Lookouts
Located in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, this location is on the Northeast side of the range giving a whole different perspective. The former lookout on the summit was an L-4 cab, built in the early 1930s, was last staffed in 1945 and gone by 1960.
Access:
The roads reaching the site are good until the last half mile where some high clearance is best, but probably passable without. The last several miles have recently been graveled and graded making a once rough road passable for most all vehicles. Nice car camps are located around the trailhead area.
Elevation: 7,336 feet
Hiking distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet
Access: Any vehicle to last half mile
Route:
The trail will do a few short climbs at the beginning, then become essentially flat until reaching the base of the final climb. A good switchbacking trail climbs through rocks, meadows and talus to reach the summit.
Looking North in 1934
Looking Southeast in 1934
Looking Southwest in 1934
Peaks of the Goat Rocks
End of the easy walking
Looking west to Mt. Rainier
South to Mt. Adams
Nails, screws, glass
Looking east to Divide Ridge with former sites like Darland Mountain, Blue Slide and Jumpoff
Cab location
Zoom to Mt. Rainier
Looking North
Bear Creek Lookout in 1955
1937 Recreation Map
Another old Tieton recreation map
Trail map