Top fire lookouts
Fire LookoutHornet Lookout
Fire LookoutApgar Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutHeaven's Peak Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutHuckleberry Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutLoneman Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutMount Brown Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutNuma Ridge Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutSwiftcurrent Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutScalplock Mountain Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutMcCart Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutBoulder Point Lookout
Fire LookoutSt. Mary Peak Lookout
Fire Lookouts by county
All fire lookouts (22)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornet Lookout | Flathead County | — | Eureka | 1 |
| Apgar Fire LookoutGlacier | Flathead County | — | Columbia Falls | 2 |
| Heaven's Peak Fire LookoutGlacier | Flathead County | — | Columbia Falls | 1 |
| Huckleberry Fire LookoutGlacier | Flathead County | — | Columbia Falls | 2 |
| Loneman Fire LookoutGlacier | Flathead County | — | Columbia Falls | 1 |
| Mount Brown Fire LookoutGlacier | Flathead County | — | Columbia Falls | 1 |
| Numa Ridge Fire LookoutGlacier | Flathead County | — | Whitefish | 1 |
| Swiftcurrent Fire LookoutGlacier | Flathead County | — | Columbia Falls | 1 |
| Scalplock Mountain Fire LookoutGlacier | Flathead County | — | Bigfork | 1 |
| McCart Fire Lookout | Ravalli County | — | Hamilton | 1 |
| Boulder Point Lookout | Ravalli County | — | Hamilton | 1 |
| St. Mary Peak Lookout | Ravalli County | — | Stevensville | 2 |
| Mineral Peak Lookout | Missoula County | — | Bonner-West Riverside | 3 |
| Gird Point Lookout | Ravalli County | — | Hamilton | 1 |
| Star Peak Lookout | Sanders County | — | Libby | 2 |
| Guardian of the Gulch | Lewis and Clark County | — | Helena | 6 |
| Poker Jim Butte Fire Lookout | Rosebud County | — | Lame Deer | 1 |
| Double Arrow Lookout | Missoula County | — | Seeley Lake | 2 |
| West Fork Butte Lookout | Missoula County | — | Lolo | 2 |
| Medicine Point Lookout | Ravalli County | — | Hamilton | 1 |
| Cougar Peak Lookout | Sanders County | — | Thompson Falls | 1 |
| Helena Fire Tower | Lewis and Clark County | — | Helena | 6 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph fire lookouts
Lookouts are built for 360° views, so sunrise and sunset are both options — use the azimuths to decide which view you want.
- Some lookouts can be rented overnight through recreation.gov, which puts you on site for both sunset and sunrise.
- Shoot the tower itself against the Milky Way or star trails on clear, moonless nights.
- Haze from wildfire smoke can turn the sun deep red but reduce visibility; check air quality.
- Access roads may be rough or seasonal.
Season: Summer and early autumn; many towers are staffed only during fire season.