Sunrise Peak Lookout Site

In 1924 Sunrise was a lookout camp with a tent and probably a telephone. In 1929 panoramics were taken from the summit. In June of 1929, local newspapers were reporting that a tower would be erected in July and August on Sunrise, along with Hamilton Buttes and French Butte, and that fire finders would be installed in each tower.
Packing in the materials may have taken longer than expected. On August 23, 1929 a Chehalis newspaper reported "Mrs. James Green and son Gordon and Delmar Green returned last Wednesday from Cat creek where they had a week's vacation at Mr. Green's camp. They made several trips to the hills while there and had a fine time. Mr. Green is now packing a house to Sunrise lookout station which will be built soon." So, whomever this Mr. Green is, he owned some kind of camp and didn’t get to packing the lookout house to Sunrise until August. Then on September 22, 1929, the newspaper reported "About five inches of snow was reported at Sunrise lookout station."

The following year in 1930 was when the lookout house was built on the summit. It was an L-4 cabin on a 15 foot wood tower. A 10x10 foot storage building was also built just below at some point (see color image). The Chehalis newspaper reported on July 25, 1930 that "William Mackay went to Sunrise Peak Friday to build a lookout station for the forest service. Frank Slagle is stationed there for the summer. He has been using a tent."

In 1937, an August news report said a forest fire burned the telephone line to the Sunrise lookout causing the lookout to be isolated, but not in danger.

In 1955, Sunrise was one of two ground observer posts locations in the Randle area that the U.S. Forest Service activated as part of an arm of the United States Air Force Civil Defense service. Aircraft sighted over their area was reported by radio to FS headquarters in Randle, then telephoned to the Seattle Filter Center who relayed the information to Air Defense Command ground control interception centers. Duane A. Priebe, formerly of Seattle, is stationed at Sunrise lookout.

One lookout (year unknown), William Boyer was an observer, he was only 18 years of age and at the time you had to be 21. It was said he was the youngest lookout in the United States and they had to get special permission through Congress to get him the job.

The lookout was removed in the early 1960s. A USGS party in 1964 reported the lookout as destroyed.

From Randle, go south at the St Helens signs. In one mile at a major Y, take FR23 (Cispus Road) to the left. Go 22 miles almost to the end of the pavement. A signed road to the right will say Sunset Trail. Take this road to the right and follow it up 5 miles to the trailhead. This last road was repaired at the end of 2019 after years of closure.

Follow the trail 0.9 miles to a split. Go right climbing 0.6 miles to another trail split just below the summit. Go right again and you are there in 0.2 miles.