Arid Peak Lookout

Idaho Panhandle National Forests — riverside, hiking

Location: AVERY, ID, ID

Price: From $45 per night

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (23 reviews)

Season: May through October

Arid Peak Lookout was built in 1934 to help detect fires that may have been sparked by the Milwaukee Railroad Line. It was last staffed in 1969 and sat idle for over 25 years before being renovated by a team of over 30 volunteers, the Forest Fire Lookout Association and the U.S. Arid Peak Lookout was restored to its original splendor in 1997 and is available for rent to the public.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/arid-peak-lookout to be notified when sites open up.

Historic 1934 fire lookout tower restored in 1997 and listed on the National Register of Historic Lookouts, offering a unique camping experience with epic 360-degree views. Located in the scenic North Fork of the St. Joe River area with access to biking and hiking activities.

Wildlife alert: Moose present in the area — use standard wildlife precautions and store food properly.

Insider tips for Arid Peak Lookout: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site, so availability fills quickly Road #1997 is single-lane gravel with pull-outs; arrive during daylight to navigate the 3.5-mile approach safely Bring your own water and supplies — no hookups available and only 1 site means no amenities beyond fire rings and picnic tables

Skip Arid Peak Lookout if: You need hookups — no water, electric, or sewer available. You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal closure means the campground won't be open. You want privacy — there is only 1 tent site total.

Best time to visit Arid Peak Lookout: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only. September-October — After peak summer camping season when federal campgrounds are less crowded, though still within operating season.

Nearby campgrounds: Shoshone Park Kitchen (SMELTERVILL, ID), Huckleberry Campground (COEUR D’ALENE, ID), Savenac West Cottage (SUPERIOR, MT), Up Up Lookout (SUPERIOR, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Arid Peak Lookout

Cell signal at Arid Peak Lookout (AVERY, ID): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Arid Peak Lookout — photo 1
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Idaho Panhandle National Forests — riverside, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Arid Peak Lookout

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AVERY, ID, ID★ 4.3 (23 reviews)From $45/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Arid Peak Lookout was built in 1934 to help detect fires that may have been sparked by the Milwaukee Railroad Line. It was last staffed in 1969 and sat idle for over 25 years before being renovated by a team of over 30 volunteers, the Forest Fire Lookout Association and the U.S. Arid Peak Lookout was restored to its original splendor in 1997 and is available for rent to the public.

Best for:HikersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need hookups — no water, electric, or sewer available✕ You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal closure means the campground won't be open✕ You want privacy — there is only 1 tent site total

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site, so availability fills quickly

Road #1997 is single-lane gravel with pull-outs; arrive during daylight to navigate the 3.5-mile approach safely

Bring your own water and supplies

no hookups available and only 1 site means no amenities beyond fire rings and picnic tables

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally during these months only

Best: September-October

After peak summer camping season when federal campgrounds are less crowded, though still within operating season

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Moose present in the area — use standard wildlife precautions and store food properly.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
208-245-4517· Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Getting there →

From Avery, turn left and head north up the North Fork of the St. Joe River Road #456 toward Wallace. Travel about 4.5 miles, then turn left down the hill just before the bridge across the river. You will then be on Road #1997, which is a single lane gravel road with pull outs. Drive about 3.5 miles and turn left on the first road (also labeled Road No. 1997). Travel 6.5 miles to Trailhead #175. A turn-around is just past the trailhead before the gate. Do not block the turnaround or the gate. Pa

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Idaho Panhandle National Forests fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Idaho Panhandle National Forests before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Arid Peak Lookout cost per night?+
Arid Peak Lookout costs $45 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Arid Peak Lookout open?+
Arid Peak Lookout is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Arid Peak Lookout have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Arid Peak Lookout?+
Arid Peak Lookout is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Arid Peak Lookout?+
Arid Peak Lookout is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Arid Peak Lookout?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Arid Peak Lookout is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Arid Peak Lookout open, and what are check-in times?+
Arid Peak Lookout is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$45 /night★ 4.3 (23)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Arid Peak Lookout cost per night?+
What season is Arid Peak Lookout open?+
Does Arid Peak Lookout have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Shoshone Park Kitchen

SMELTERVILL, ID

From $30/night

Huckleberry Campground

COEUR D’ALENE, ID

From $60/night

Savenac West Cottage

SUPERIOR, MT

From $80/night

Up Up Lookout

SUPERIOR, MT

From $45/night

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