Lookout Mountain (Kittitas County)

Hikers seldom visit this southern corner of Wenatchee National Forest, leaving the trails to motorcycle groups. But visit mid-week and prior to hunting season and you�ll unlikely see anyone in this remote country. A hikers highlight is to stroll to the summit of Lookout Mountain. A faint abandoned trail leads nearly to the summit. On the rocky summit is a benchmark called TANO 1958.

Fire Lookout Information

The Kresek Lookout Inventory says there was a tower of some kind in 1930. Numerous people who have visited the summit have told me they saw no evidence of any kind. During my visit, I checked the entire ridgeline, including the southeast ridge past the summit. I didn�t find anything. If this site was used, it was likely a short period and just a tent camp. Seems to me, it would be a patrol point for nearby North Ridge Lookout in order to view down into the Taneum Creek drainages. More information to come if it becomes available.

Elevation: 6,198 feet
Distance: 4.5 miles (from South Cle Elum Ridge)
Elevation gain: 120 feet
Access: Good Gravel
Kittitas County

Access

Multiple ways exist. I came in from South Cle Elum Ridge on the motorcycle trail.
Take exit 78 off I-90 and head south. Make a left on Westside Drive and take it two miles to a right turn onto Woods and Steele Road. Follow to end of pavement where a dirt road will become Forest Road 4510 climbing Cle Elum Ridge. Follow map to gate. This is a pretty good forest road but quite a hill climb.

Former Lookouts

I-90 Hikes

Route

Hike the road past the gate for 0.7 miles. Grab the trail on the right and follow for 3 miles to a highpoint between Windy Pass and Lookout Mountain (we camped here). Now look for a trail on the north side of the ridge heading up to Lookout Mountain. It mostly stays on the North side but once you loose it up high, the south side has very few trees and is easy cross county trekking to the summit.