Minton Peak Lookout

Federal campground in Kootenai National Forest

Location: Trout Creek, MT, MT

Price: From $55 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (26 reviews)

Season: May through October

Minton Peak Lookout is situated in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,351 feet in the Kootenai National Forest. The original lookout was constructed in 1932, replaced in 1968, and completely rebuilt in 2011. The mountain was named after Col.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups, Firewood for Sale

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

Historic 1932 fire lookout tower completely rebuilt in 2011, offering a unique rustic retreat in the Rocky Mountains at 5,351 feet elevation. Google reviewers rate it 4.8/5 stars, praising its cleanliness, organization, and amenities like a camp stove.

Wildlife alert: Bald Eagles, American Beaver, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Violet-green Swallow, and Western Terrestrial Garter Snake documented in the area.

Insider tips for Minton Peak Lookout: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand Camp stove is provided in the lookout, very handy for cooking Previous renters responsible for cleaning; arrive early to inspect and request cleaning if needed

Skip Minton Peak Lookout if: You need electric hookups—no hookups available. You prefer developed campgrounds—this is a rustic historic lookout with minimal amenities. You're visiting outside May-October—seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Minton Peak Lookout: Late June - Mid October — RIDB official description states lookout is typically open late June through mid-October; also matches posted May-October season with peak accessibility..

Nearby campgrounds: Gem Peak Lookout Rental (TROUT CREEK, MT), Sex Peak. Lookout Rental (TROUT CREEK, MT), Little Guard Lookout (SMELTERVILLE, ID), Avery Creek Cabin (Coeur d’Alene, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Minton Peak Lookout

Cell signal at Minton Peak Lookout (Trout Creek, 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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Federal campground in Kootenai National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Minton Peak Lookout

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Trout Creek, MT, MT★ 4.8 (26 reviews)From $55/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Minton Peak Lookout is situated in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,351 feet in the Kootenai National Forest. The original lookout was constructed in 1932, replaced in 1968, and completely rebuilt in 2011. The mountain was named after Col.

Best for:FamiliesSites: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.
Pull-throughsAvailable
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic TablesFirewood for Sale
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

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 electric hookups—no hookups available✕ You prefer developed campgrounds—this is a rustic historic lookout with minimal amenities✕ You're visiting outside May-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 and high demand

Camp stove is provided in the lookout, very handy for cooking

Previous renters responsible for cleaning; arrive early to inspect and request cleaning if needed

Best: Late June - Mid October

RIDB official description states lookout is typically open late June through mid-October; also matches posted May-October season with peak accessibility.

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: Bald Eagles, American Beaver, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Violet-green Swallow, and Western Terrestrial Garter Snake documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
406-827-3533· Kootenai National Forest
Getting there →

From Trout Creek, take Cedar Street to Pine Street. Turn right and follow for 5.89 miles. (Pine St. turns into Marten Cr. Road). Turn left on Minton Peak Road 322 and follow for 7.9 miles to the lookout Road 322A. Follow this road for 0.62 miles to the lookout.

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 — Kootenai National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Kootenai National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Minton Peak Lookout cost per night?+
Minton Peak Lookout costs $55 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Minton Peak Lookout open?+
Minton Peak Lookout is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Minton Peak Lookout have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Minton Peak Lookout?+
Minton Peak Lookout is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Minton Peak Lookout?+
Minton 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 Minton Peak Lookout?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Minton Peak Lookout is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Minton Peak Lookout open, and what are check-in times?+
Minton Peak Lookout is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility Map
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.

$55 /night★ 4.8 (26)
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 Minton Peak Lookout cost per night?+
What season is Minton Peak Lookout open?+
Does Minton Peak Lookout have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Gem Peak Lookout Rental

TROUT CREEK, MT

From $45/night

Sex Peak. Lookout Rental

TROUT CREEK, MT

From $45/night

Little Guard Lookout

SMELTERVILLE, ID

From $55/night

Avery Creek Cabin

Coeur d’Alene, ID

From $120/night

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