SANDERS COUNTY
BIG HOLE
Lolo National Forest
21N-27W-4
21N-27W-4
September 24, 1930: “The work of installing four ready cut lookout houses has been finished. The buildings were put on Squaw Peak in the Noxon district, Seven Point Peak in the Trout Creek district, and at Big Hole and Penrose Peaks in the Plains district.” (The Sanders County Independent-Ledger)
1972: The last season the lookout was staffed.
2013: Restoration of the building included replacing the logs in one wall, new shingles for the roof and the installation of a new stove.
2014: The continuing restoration for this year included replacing the logs in a second wall. The windows were rebuilt, painted and installed.
August 1, 2016: The lookout was wrapped in fire resistant material as a protective measure in the face of the Copper King Fire.
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US FOREST SERVICE 1940 (ANS)
BIG HOLE PEAK LOOKOUT HOUSE IS ON TOP OF BIG HOLE PEAK, A
TIMBERED HILL BUT BARE AND ROCKY ON ITS VERY TOP, ABOUT 13
MILES E OF THOMPSON FALLS AND ABOUT 14-1/2 MILES NW OF PLAINS
IN CABINET NATIONAL FOREST. IT IS A U.S.F.S. LOOKOUT HOUSE.
THE HOUSE IS OF WOOD AND U.S.G.S. STATION BIG HOLE IS 10 FEET
W OF THE W SIDE OF THE HOUSE. BIG HOLE (U.S.G.S.) WAS USED
AS THE AZIMUTH MARK FOR U.S.C. AND G.S. STATION BIG HOLE
WHICH IS ABOUT 0.3 MILE W OF THE HIGHEST POINT OF BIG HOLE
PEAK.
THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE WAS CUT IN.
STATION RECOVERY (1980)
RECOVERY NOTE BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1980 (CLN)
RECOVERED AS DESCRIBED. THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE WAS VISITED AND
THEY STATED THAT THE CABIN WAS NOT IN USE BUT HAD NOT BEEN MOVED