Medicine Point Lookout

Bitterroot National Forest — riverside, hiking

Location: SULA, MT, MT

Price: From $30 per night

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 (7 reviews)

Season: May through October

Medicine Point Lookout is a historic tower located on Medicine Point, west 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, near the scenic Bitterroot River in a rustic, old-time setting, while having the enjoyment of recreating on public lands.

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/medicine-point-lookout to be notified when sites open up.

Historic 1940s-era lookout tower on a mountain peak with spectacular views of western Montana wilderness near the scenic Bitterroot River. Google reviewers consistently rate it 5/5, calling it one of the best lookouts in Montana.

Wildlife alert: Bighorn Sheep, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Lazuli Bunting, Pine Siskin, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Bushy-tailed Woodrat, Western Terrestrial Garter Snake, Bullsnake, Northern Rubber Boa

Insider tips for Medicine Point Lookout: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand Only 1 site available, so competition is steep Portions of the trail are steep; be prepared for elevation gain

Skip Medicine Point Lookout if: You require hookups — no hookups available. You need flexibility outside May-October season. You have mobility limitations due to steep trail access.

Best time to visit Medicine Point Lookout: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Twogood Cabin (SULA, MT), Spring Gulch (Sula, MT), Indian Trees Campground (Sula Ranger District, MT), Rombo (DARBY, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Medicine Point Lookout

Cell signal at Medicine Point 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.

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Medicine Point Lookout — photo 1
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Bitterroot National Forest — riverside, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Medicine Point Lookout

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SULA, MT, MT★ 4.9 (7 reviews)From $30/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Medicine Point Lookout is a historic tower located on Medicine Point, west 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, near the scenic Bitterroot River in a rustic, old-time setting, while having the enjoyment of recreating on public lands.

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 require hookups — no hookups available✕ You need flexibility outside May-October season✕ You have mobility limitations due to steep trail access

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand

Only 1 site available, so competition is steep

Portions of the trail are steep; be prepared for elevation gain

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

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: Bighorn Sheep, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Lazuli Bunting, Pine Siskin, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Bushy-tailed Woodrat, Western Terrestrial Garter Snake, Bullsnake, Northern Rubber Boa

Location

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

From Missoula, Montana, travel south on Highway 93 to Laird Creek Road/Forest Service Road 370, which is approximately 34 miles south of Hamilton. Turn right and continue about 4 miles to Bear Creek Saddle. At Bear Creek Saddle, turn north onto Forest Service Road 5731 and continue 2 miles to the trailhead. The trail to the tower is approximately 3.5 miles and is quite steep along some portions, gaining 2,000 feet of elevation.

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

$30 /night★ 4.9 (7)
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 Medicine Point Lookout cost per night?+
What season is Medicine Point Lookout open?+
Does Medicine Point Lookout have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Twogood Cabin

SULA, MT

From $30/night

Spring Gulch

Sula, MT

From $15/night

Indian Trees Campground

Sula Ranger District, MT

From $15/night

Rombo

DARBY, MT

From $15/night

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