Sooes Peak (Tsoo-Yess Peak)
Sooes Peak is the highest point in the Makah Nation in the Northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula. This also means the fire lookout on the summit was the most Northwestern fire lookout in the lower 48 states. The peak has 1,708 feet of prominence but did not get the fire lookout tower until 1957. The tower was moved from Neah Lookout, which was at a much lower elevation. The 80 foot steel tower was dropped or fell in 1973 and remains on the summit.
Elevation: 1,978 feet
Distance: Three-quarters mile
Elevation gain: 800 feet
Access: Gravel & Dirt Roads
Clallam County
WillhiteWeb.com
The access is on Makah Tribal Lands, do not visit without permission. The Makah Recreation Pass does not allow access to their forest roads.
Access:
The final half mile of road has been abandoned but shows signs of future rebuilding for timber harvest.
Route:
1959 USGS
Clearing at the summit
Tower footings
Tower footing with USGS benchmark
Steps to the tower stairs
Communication batteries
Unknown item
Tower location 2017
Sooes Peak lookout on its side
Below are pictures from the lookout site thanks to Harold Weaver. He was a forester who took hundreds of photos on the Olymmpic Peninsula of tree stands and documented tree growth and methods. Photos taken July 25, 1961.
NW corner
Vancouver Island in distance