Strawberry Mountain Lookout Site

WillhiteWeb.com: Fire Lookouts

Washington had at least 3 Strawberry Mountain lookouts, one in the Colville National Forest, one on the Colville Tribe lands, and this one, in the Gifford Pinchot, at the edge of Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The lookout location is not the highest point on the ridge but it sure has a spectacular range of viewing.

The first lookout structure on this site was a shake-sided cupola cabin built by Bill Roe in 1926. In September 1926, the magazine Six Twenty-Six reported the following:

"Bill Roe, who hangs his hat on the peak of Strawberry and calls it 'home', will soon have a new L.O. station ready to move into. Bill has had a tough job making his own lumber out of twisty mountain hemlock in his one man sawmill. When Bill gets a board made he spikes it in place so it won't curl up and crawl away while he is making another. Shingles were made at Spirit Lake and packed out 12 miles. Bill is making everything also except the glass for the windows and the knob for the door. (Can't somebody get a glass blower for Bill?) Ed."

From the language at the beginning, it seems Bill probably had a tent camp before 1926, or maybe it was just the summer of construction.

The cupola was replaced in 1931 with a 15 foot pole tower with gable-roofed L-4 cab.

This L-4 lasted until it was removed in the 1950s. A USGS party mentions the lookout in 1953. At the trailhead is a tourist sign saying the lookout was from 1931-1967.

From Randle, take FR 25 toward Mt. St. Helens for 17 miles to FR-2516. Follow this good gravel road for 6 miles to a parking area at a pass. A narrow road (once gated) continues a bit further but dead-ends at a viewpoint.

Elevation: 5,464 feet
Hiking distance: Under 1 mile
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
Access: Any vehicle

From the parking, walk the narrow road on the left side of the ridge for about 2 minutes. You will see the trail on the right side climbing up into the forest to gain the ridge. The trail will follow the ridge for a short time, then traverse the East side to the back side of the mountain. Turn right and soon you are at the top. The trail to the left is a 2.25 miles hike from Bear Meadow Trailhead on FR 99, which is paved but requires a parking pass.

1936 Spirit Lake Recreation Map (lookout was popular to hike from Spirit Lake)

Looking Southwest in 1936

Looking North in 1936

Looking Southeast in 1936

Pre-eruption, Mel Ellis 1946

Looking north to more of Strawberry Mountain and Mt. Rainier in the distance

Mt. St. Helens from Strawberry Mountain lookout site

Mt. Adams from Strawberry Mountain lookout site

Northwest to Goat Mountain

Bill Roe in his coupla built in 1926

Strawberry Lookout in 1931

battery cores, nails, glass

Peaks north of Mt. St. Helens, including lookouts Margaret and Coldwater

Lots of cable on the summit and possible buried footings

Below: some stories from Fire Lookouts of the Northwest (Kresek)