CamperWatch

National campground directory. Verified data, live availability, community tips.

info@camperwatch.org

Explore

  • Search all campgrounds
  • Free camping guide
  • Dispersed camping guide
  • National park campgrounds
  • When Yosemite is sold out
  • When Yellowstone is sold out
  • Availability alerts
  • Community feed
  • Baja California RV parks
  • Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Featured Campgrounds

  • Emerald Bay — Lake Tahoe CAState
  • Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe ParksTribal
  • Slough Creek — Yellowstone
  • North Pines — Yosemite Valley
  • Jenny Lake — Grand Teton
  • Many Glacier — Glacier NP

For Owners

  • List your campground free
  • Hipcamp alternative
  • Campspot alternative
  • Campground booking software
  • List campground free guide

© 2026 CamperWatch · Not affiliated with Recreation.gov, NPS, or USFS

TermsPrivacyCancellationContactllms.txt

Mccart Lookout

Bitterroot National Forest — hiking

Location: SULA, MT, MT

Price: From $30 per night

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (4 reviews)

Season: May through October

McCart Lookout is a historic tower located on McCart Peak, east of Sula. It has been restored to reflect a lookout of the 1940s, including the stove, furniture, dishes and other small touches. It offers a unique chance for visitors to camp on a mountain peak, on the border of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, in a rustic, old-time setting.

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/mccart-lookout to be notified when sites open up.

Historic 1940s-era lookout tower on McCart Peak offering unique mountain peak camping with spectacular views of western Montana wilderness on the border of Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. Google reviewers consistently praise the beautiful hike and restored tower experience (4.8/5 rating).

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Moose, Shiras Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Sandhill Crane, and Chukar present in the area.

Insider tips for Mccart Lookout: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 1 site that fills up fast according to Google reviews. Prepare for a moderately difficult hike to reach the tower; reviewers noted it was harder than expected. High-clearance vehicles recommended; the road to trailhead is rough single-lane and low-clearance vehicles may scrape bottom.

Skip Mccart Lookout if: You need hookups—no hookups available at this site.. You prefer accessibility—the hike is moderately difficult and the road is rough.. You're visiting outside May through October—seasonal operations only..

Best time to visit Mccart Lookout: May-October — Seasonal operations period as verified in campground data..

Nearby campgrounds: East Fork Cabin (SULA, MT), Hogan Cabin (WISDOM, MT), Indian Trees Campground (Sula Ranger District, MT), Spring Gulch (Sula, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Mccart Lookout

Cell signal at Mccart Lookout (SULA, MT): 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.

    CamperWatch
    CommunityPlan a tripCompareTribes
    CamperWatch›MT›Mccart Lookout
    Mccart Lookout — photo 1
    Mccart Lookout — photo 2
    Mccart Lookout — photo 3
    See all photos
    Bitterroot National Forest — hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Mccart Lookout

    Share: X Facebook
    SULA, MT, MT★ 4.2 (4 reviews)From $30/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    McCart Lookout is a historic tower located on McCart Peak, east of Sula. It has been restored to reflect a lookout of the 1940s, including the stove, furniture, dishes and other small touches. It offers a unique chance for visitors to camp on a mountain peak, on the border of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, in a rustic, old-time setting.

    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.
    PetsNot allowed
    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 hookups available at this site.✕ You prefer accessibility—the hike is moderately difficult and the road is rough.✕ You're visiting outside May through October—seasonal operations only.

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Book early

    this is a federal campground with only 1 site that fills up fast according to Google reviews.

    Prepare for a moderately difficult hike to reach the tower; reviewers noted it was harder than expected.

    High-clearance vehicles recommended; the road to trailhead is rough single-lane and low-clearance vehicles may scrape bottom.

    Best: May-October

    Seasonal operations period as verified in campground data.

    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: American Black Bear, Moose, Shiras Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Sandhill Crane, and Chukar present in the area.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    406-821-3913· Bitterroot National Forest
    Getting there →

    From Missoula, Montana, travel south on Highway 93 for approximately 90 miles to Sula. Go east on Highway 472 for about 15 miles and then south on Forest Road 5765/McCart Road for about 6 miles to the Johnson Peak Trailhead. Hike about 1.5 miles to the lookout tower.

    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 — Bitterroot National Forest fills fast in peak season.
    • Check current road conditions at Bitterroot National Forest 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 Mccart Lookout cost per night?+
    Mccart Lookout costs $30 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
    What season is Mccart Lookout open?+
    Mccart Lookout is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Mccart Lookout have hookups?+
    No hookups.
    What is the maximum RV length at Mccart Lookout?+
    Mccart Lookout is primarily a tent camping facility.
    How do I make reservations at Mccart Lookout?+
    Mccart 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 Mccart Lookout?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Mccart Lookout is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Mccart Lookout open, and what are check-in times?+
    Mccart Lookout is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    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.

    $30 /night★ 4.2 (4)
    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 Mccart Lookout cost per night?+
    What season is Mccart Lookout open?+
    Does Mccart Lookout have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    East Fork Cabin

    SULA, MT

    From $50/night

    Hogan Cabin

    WISDOM, MT

    From $45/night

    Indian Trees Campground

    Sula Ranger District, MT

    From $15/night

    Spring Gulch

    Sula, MT

    From $15/night

    Own a campground nearby?

    List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

    List your campground →
    $30 /nightNo booking fees
    +TRIPCheck availability