French Point Lookout Site

Fire Lookouts of Washington

Access:

Eight miles west of Darrington on Highway 530 is the French Creek Road. Follow this road toward the Boulder River Trailhead. The second forest road on the right at 2.5 miles is what you need. Currently, it is gated and blocked with timbers about 200 feet up the road. The road has several large water trenches and has been decommissioned until the next timber harvest.

Located on a low-elevation knob on the valley bottom of the Stillaguamish Valley, French Point is an easy walk-up on decommissioned logging roads. There are few views left as the trees have grown enough to block everything. But when the trees are gone, the views extend up and down the Stillaguamish Valley and surrounding mountains. The lookout site was to the left as you arrive on the summit. Some of the tower poles with old hardware remain in the brush under the new growing trees, as are some concrete footings. A small tool to clear the brush off them might improve the site for others. Prominence peakbaggers will appreciate that this little knob has 520 feet of prominence.

Elevation: 1,400+ feet
Distance: 1 mile
Elevation Gain: 550 feet
Access: Very good gravel

Looking North 7-15-1935

Looking Southeast 7-15-1935

Looking Southwest 7-15-1935

Early map showing French Point Lookout

Access map for French Point

Mt. Higgens - Photo by Hulksmash from 2009

1936 recreation map showing French Point Lookout

Visited by Irene Potter just after harvest

Location by Irene Potter just after harvest

Better shot from web without brush

Photo from web - Higgins

Lookout History:

French Point Fire Lookout was built in 1935 and had a native 35 foot pole tower with an L-4 cab. The lookout was abandoned in 1959. During WWII, the lookout was used as an Aircraft Warning Service Station "Yoke 5-3".
A 10 x 12 sleeping quarters was added using AWS resources.

1937 Image

Gate and then some

Forested section of road

Views from the road

Arriving on top

Limited view

Footing #1 under the brush

Eyebolt

Footing #2

Footing #3

Tower leg with hardware