Skookum Butte Lookout Site

In 1932, a one room cabin was built on Skookum Butte. The station was occupied by the Johnson Meadow fireman and lookout. Also, a telephone line was to be built from Bald Mountain west to Skookum Butte. The work was to be performed by Ranger Clarence Young, and a three man crew taking in 19 miles of line. Along the way, it would connect with the new lookout on Pumice Butte. Plans the following year were to continue the phone line to Walker Mountain.

In 1933, a 60-foot steel tower was built on the site. Fremont Forest Service workers had a tough time with the build due to the heavy snowfall year. The small meadows that had not been flooded for years were flooded and trucks carrying materials were not able to cross them. The tower was hoped to be ready for occupancy by June 20, but got pushed to July 1. This year, panorama photos were taken by William Birchall at 63 feet above ground.

In 1953, a USGS team mentions their benchmark was about 150 feet north of the lookout tower.

In 1956, the air marking number for this station was F-1.

In 1965, the tower was gone.

Use map below. Roads go almost to the top except last quarter mile. If roads are wet, they could be impassable. Fallen trees could block your access before you get to the abandoned final stretch. I hiked just over a mile on roads because of fallen trees.