Watch Mountain Lookout

This is the second lookout built on Watch Mountain, built in 1963 at the end of lookout construction days. The original lookout was 2 miles to the east on the most eastern point of this long ridgeline. This current 14 x14 foot DNR flattop cab with catwalk is not used for anything fire related. Solar panels on top with numerous batteries inside assist some sort of radio communication equipment. Almost all the windows have been covered by insulation, so inside looks bleak. Someone pointed out on the NHLR.org page that in this unique situation it seems the agencies who own the equipment take care of the lookout so that it continues to house their items. It is likely that this use saved the tower from being removed long ago.

If you are doing Watch Mountain Lookout, you must include Kiona Peak former lookout site. The distance apart is only 2.1 miles summit to summit. Also, if you come via the logging road route, you hit the ridge midway between the two.

Although this lookout is visible from Highway 12, access is rather long and difficult. The most direct routes are full of gates and no-trespassing signs. The most common route is to use logging roads that wrap around the west side of Kiona Peak, way to the north and then reach the 5 way junction saddle between Kiona and Watch. This route is reported to be over 12 miles one-way. I did not go this way but I will provide a map as I would recommend that way. My route came via the east ridge of Watch from the old lookout, recommended if you want to get all three lookout sites. The most enjoyable route ought to be from Watch Lake (since there is a trail to the lake) but there is no good access from the lake up to the lookout.

The Watch Mountain highpoint is located east of the lookout. The prominence is around 665 feet or so. The reward on the true summit is minimal. There are three points, all mostly forested with some views north.

Forest Service: if you ever decide to remove this lookout (appears to be in danger of neglect), consider flying just the cab to the original location to the east. No access across private land is required to reach the original location. Minimal work by volunteers would be needed to clear the trail to just below the site, then easy to make a new trail up the ridge to the old lookout site. The location would be quite an attraction and a popular destination year-round.

From Highway 12, take Oliver Creek Road and drive about one mile. There will be a quarry up a road to the left. Stay right/straight and a bit further come to a gate on the right. Park here off the road. Hike: Hike the gated road pat a couple of residents to a second gate. Stay on the main road as it switches back up. At about a mile and half from the lookout you will be directly below it but you will need to make a long switchback to get up to its level. The right turn to the lookout will be obvious.

September 23, 1967: "The dry summer just past was a busy one for Miss Kenna Lagerquist of Randle, who spent her vacation from college as a Department of Natural Resources lookout at Watch Mountain in eastern Lewis County. Miss Lagerquist reported for duty on June 19. She said she found her home atop the lookout not a bit lonely -- in fact she had a steady stream of visitors. Bear, deer, grouse and other mountain wildlife found her an object of curiosity and stopped by often." (The Daily Chronicle)

July 29, 1969: "John Vojtko, 31, had been visiting his aunt, Erika Ujbazi, a lookout tower firewatch in the Randle Ranger District. He left at about 2 p.m. Sunday to hike back to Randle but slipped and fell off a cliff on Watch Mountain and fell toward Watch Lake, one-quarter mile below. He stopped his fall by grabbing a limb, 20 feet from the top of the cliff, and gained the safety of a small draw where he spent the night in temperatures ranging in the low 50s. Two loggers of the St. Regis Paper Company heard Vojtko's cries for help Monday morning and notified St. Regis officials and the Lewis County Sheriff's office shortly after noon. The rescuers were able to find a ledge, about 20 feet below Vojtko's perch and made their way up the face of the cliff to a point above and to the left of Voltko. Two ropes were lowered. Vojtko tied one around his body and used the other one to walk himself down to the ledge where the other rescuers waited to take him to safety. He did not require hospitalization, however, and returned to the lookout tower to spend the night." (The Daily Chronicle)

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