Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge

Kootenai National Forest — hiking

Location: TROY, MT, MT

Price: From $55 per night

Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (22 reviews)

Season: May through October

The Mount Baldy - Buckhorn Ridge Lookout sits at an elevation of 6,529 feet in the Kootenai National Forest. This location has been used as an observation point for detecting forest fires since 1910. The current lookout tower was built in 1957.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/mt-baldy-buckhorn-ridge to be notified when sites open up.

Historic fire lookout tower at 6,529 feet in Kootenai National Forest offering enchanting views and rustic overnight accommodations. Highly rated by lookout enthusiasts (4.8/5 stars) for its character and gorgeous mountain location.

Wildlife alert: Gray Wolf, Moose, White-tailed Deer, American Beaver, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow

Insider tips for Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge: High clearance vehicle recommended for primitive access roads Only 1 tent site available — book early as noted in known issues Lookout includes propane stove/oven and propane lantern; pack additional supplies despite some provided

Skip Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge if: Expecting hookups — no hookups available. Visiting outside late June to late September window. Unable to drive primitive forest roads with high clearance vehicle.

Best time to visit Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge: Late June - Late September — Official availability window per RIDB description; May through October seasonal operations.

Nearby campgrounds: Whitetail Yurt (Troy, MT), Deer Ridge Lookout (BONNERS FERRY, ID), Garver Mtn. Lookout Rental (TROY, MT), Snyder Guard Station (Id) (Bonners Ferry, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge

Cell signal at Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge (TROY, 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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Kootenai National Forest — hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge

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TROY, MT, MT★ 4.1 (22 reviews)From $55/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

The Mount Baldy - Buckhorn Ridge Lookout sits at an elevation of 6,529 feet in the Kootenai National Forest. This location has been used as an observation point for detecting forest fires since 1910. The current lookout tower was built in 1957.

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.
Pull-throughsAvailable
ToiletsVault toilets
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic Tables
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:✕ Expecting hookups — no hookups available✕ Visiting outside late June to late September window✕ Unable to drive primitive forest roads with high clearance vehicle

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

High clearance vehicle recommended for primitive access roads

Only 1 tent site available

book early as noted in known issues

Lookout includes propane stove/oven and propane lantern; pack additional supplies despite some provided

Best: Late June - Late September

Official availability window per RIDB description; May through October seasonal operations

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: Gray Wolf, Moose, White-tailed Deer, American Beaver, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
406-295-4693· Kootenai National Forest
Getting there →

From Troy Montana, follow Highway 2 West for 9.5 miles to Yaak Highway 508. Follow Yaak Highway 508 for 18 miles north to Meadow Creek Road 524. Follow Road 524 1 mile to junction with Road 745. Take road 745 approximately 4 miles to Baldy Mountain Lookout Road 591. Follow 591 for approximately 2 miles to Road 5954. Take Road 5954 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.
  • 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 Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge cost per night?+
Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge costs $55 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge open?+
Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge?+
Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge?+
Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge 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 Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge open, and what are check-in times?+
Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge 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★ 4.1 (22)
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 Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge cost per night?+
What season is Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge open?+
Does Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Whitetail Yurt

Troy, MT

From $25/night

Deer Ridge Lookout

BONNERS FERRY, ID

From $45/night

Garver Mtn. Lookout Rental

TROY, MT

From $45/night

Snyder Guard Station (Id)

Bonners Ferry, ID

From $20/night

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