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Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id)

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests — hiking

Location: POTLATCH, ID, ID

Price: From $45 per night

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 (12 reviews)

Season: May through October

Bald Mountain Lookout offers the opportunity to enjoy unforgettable views and participate in a variety of recreational opportunities. It was built in 1956 and was used as a fire lookout until 1984. Guests can drive to the lookout in vehicles with good ground clearance, but trailers are not recommended due to some rough spots on the road.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bald-mountain-lookout-nez-perce-clearwater-national-forests-id to be notified when sites open up.

Bald Mountain Lookout is a historic fire lookout built in 1956 offering unforgettable views and access to diverse recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. The primitive accommodations provide a unique backcountry camping experience in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions present in area; also watch for garter snakes (Valley and Western Terrestrial species), hummingbirds, and various songbirds.

Insider tips for Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id): Vehicles with good ground clearance required; trailers not recommended due to rough road conditions. Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 site. Historic 1956 fire lookout structure provides unique accommodation unavailable at typical campgrounds.

Skip Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) if: Towing a trailer—road has rough spots unsuitable for trailers.. Visiting outside early July to early October when lookout is typically closed.. Seeking sites with electrical hookups or modern amenities—accommodations are mostly primitive..

Best time to visit Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id): Early July - Early October — RIDB states lookout is typically open early July through early October; this differs from broader May-October season listing..

Nearby campgrounds: Shadowy St. Joe Campground (Saint Maries, ID), Elk Creek Campground (Clearwater Nf) (POTLATCH, ID), Huckleberry Campground (COEUR D’ALENE, ID), Dent Acres (OROFINO, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id)

Cell signal at Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) (POTLATCH, ID): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.

  • AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
  • T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage

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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Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) — photo 1
Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) — photo 2
Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) — photo 3
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests — hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id)

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POTLATCH, ID, ID★ 3.7 (12 reviews)From $45/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Bald Mountain Lookout offers the opportunity to enjoy unforgettable views and participate in a variety of recreational opportunities. It was built in 1956 and was used as a fire lookout until 1984. Guests can drive to the lookout in vehicles with good ground clearance, but trailers are not recommended due to some rough spots on the road.

Best for:HikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites: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 RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Drinking Water

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:✕ Towing a trailer—road has rough spots unsuitable for trailers.✕ Visiting outside early July to early October when lookout is typically closed.✕ Seeking sites with electrical hookups or modern amenities—accommodations are mostly primitive.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Vehicles with good ground clearance required; trailers not recommended due to rough road conditions.

Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 site.

Historic 1956 fire lookout structure provides unique accommodation unavailable at typical campgrounds.

Best: Early July - Early October

RIDB states lookout is typically open early July through early October; this differs from broader May-October season listing.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 100%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 100%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mountain lions present in area; also watch for garter snakes (Valley and Western Terrestrial species), hummingbirds, and various songbirds.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
208-875-1131· Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Getting there →

From Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, drive 70 miles south on U.S. Highway 95 to State Highway 6. Turn left on State Highway 6, White Pine Scenic Byway, travel through Potlatch and continue on for 22 miles. Turn right on Forest Road 377, Palouse Divide Road. This is a single lane, dirt surface road that is rarely graded and slippery when wet. Follow FR 377 for approximately 8 miles to the junction with FR 377A. Turn on FR 377A and climb for 1 mile to Bald Mountain Lookout. This last mile of road is rough a

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 — Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Nez Perce-Clearwater 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 Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) cost per night?+
Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) costs $45 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) open?+
Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id)?+
Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id)?+
Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) 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 Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) is rated moderate. Best carrier: T-Mobile. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) open, and what are check-in times?+
Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Nez Perce - Clearwater N.FIdaho Fish and GameNational Resource Conservation ServiceActive Fire Weather mapping
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●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★ 3.7 (12)
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 Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) cost per night?+
What season is Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) open?+
Does Bald Mountain Lookout (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Id) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Shadowy St. Joe Campground

Saint Maries, ID

From $20/night

Elk Creek Campground (Clearwater Nf)

POTLATCH, ID

From $20/night

Huckleberry Campground

COEUR D’ALENE, ID

From $60/night

Dent Acres

OROFINO, ID

From $25/night

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