Strawberry Mountain Lookout

Elevation: 5,855 feet
Hiking Distance: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,880 feet
Access: High-clearance best for final few miles

Known as the hard one to reach on the Colville, Strawberry is a location that seems remote, that it may as well be 1940 when you are there. The tower was built in 1936. It is a 54 foot steel tower that currently has trees growing up inside the stairs. You can squeeze your way up the first few flights, then all the way to the cab for big views. Next to the tower is the remains of the L-4 cab for living quarters. The tower was staffed into 1938, and has been abandoned ever since. The L-4 cab was destroyed many years ago by a falling snag.

Find your way to Gold Lake. I came in from the south, turning left at the Park City intersection (nothing there) to reach Gold Lake. Use map below. There are many abandoned roads shown on maps that no longer exist in this area.

I’ve seen 4 different routes taken to the summit. For my route shown on the map, follow the old overgrowing road to the south side of the mountain. Leave the road and go uphill until you reach the summit. A fire took out most of the brush but fireweed is growing in. The off-trail is easy uphill terrain if you are use to it. Newcomers to off-trail travel will find it hard.