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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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    CamperWatch›MT›Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge
    Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge — photo 1
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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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    $55 /nightNo booking fees
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