Shorty Peak Lookout

Idaho Panhandle National Forests — riverside

Location: BONNERS FERRY, ID, ID

Price: From $45 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (22 reviews)

Season: May through October

Shorty Peak Lookout, 45 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, sits atop Shorty Peak with views of the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges of Northern Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. The rustic dwelling was once used to patrol forest fires, and is now a unique way for overnight guests to escape the city and become enthralled with 360 degree views of area’s magnificence. Access requires a moderate to steep 2.5 mile hike with a 1,300 foot elevation gain.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups

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

Shorty Peak Lookout offers a unique overnight experience atop a historic fire lookout with 360-degree views of the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges. Campers report a challenging but rewarding 2.5-mile hike with well-groomed trails and magnificent vistas.

Wildlife alert: Gray wolves and golden-mantled ground squirrels present in area. Also watch for spruce grouse, pine grosbeaks, chestnut-backed chickadees, and yellow-rumped warblers.

Insider tips for Shorty Peak Lookout: Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site Prepare for significant mosquito activity at the trailhead and along the trail Be ready for variable weather including rain and sleet even during season

Skip Shorty Peak Lookout if: You cannot handle a moderate to steep 2.5-mile hike with 1,300 feet elevation gain. You need RV hookups or electric hookups. You are not prepared for high mosquito populations.

Best time to visit Shorty Peak Lookout: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Nearby campgrounds: Beaver Creek (Idaho) (Nordman, ID), Reeder Bay (Priest Lake, ID), Snyder Guard Station (Id) (Bonners Ferry, ID), Deer Ridge Lookout (BONNERS FERRY, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Shorty Peak Lookout

Cell signal at Shorty Peak Lookout (BONNERS FERRY, ID): 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
CamperWatch›ID›Shorty Peak Lookout
Shorty Peak Lookout — photo 1
Shorty Peak Lookout — photo 2
Shorty Peak Lookout — photo 3
Idaho Panhandle National Forests — riversideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Shorty Peak Lookout

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BONNERS FERRY, ID, ID★ 4.8 (22 reviews)From $45/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Shorty Peak Lookout, 45 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, sits atop Shorty Peak with views of the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges of Northern Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. The rustic dwelling was once used to patrol forest fires, and is now a unique way for overnight guests to escape the city and become enthralled with 360 degree views of area’s magnificence. Access requires a moderate to steep 2.5 mile hike with a 1,300 foot elevation gain.

Best for:Wildlife 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.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Drinking Water

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 cannot handle a moderate to steep 2.5-mile hike with 1,300 feet elevation gain✕ You need RV hookups or electric hookups✕ You are not prepared for high mosquito populations

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site

Prepare for significant mosquito activity at the trailhead and along the trail

Be ready for variable weather including rain and sleet even during season

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally during these months 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: Gray wolves and golden-mantled ground squirrels present in area. Also watch for spruce grouse, pine grosbeaks, chestnut-backed chickadees, and yellow-rumped warblers.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
208-267-5561· Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Getting there →

From the Bonners Ferry Ranger Station: Take Highway 95 north for 17 miles. Turn left onto Highway 1 and head north for 2 miles. Turn left onto Copeland Road and head west for 4 miles. Stay right at the T junction and continue north on Westside Road for 9 miles. Stay to the left around the switchback, onto Forest Road 281, then drive west for 8 miles. Turn right on Road 655 and drive west 1.5 miles. Stay right again at the switchback, heading east 1 mile on Rd 282. Go straight at the next junctio

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 — Idaho Panhandle National Forests fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Idaho Panhandle National Forests 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 Shorty Peak Lookout cost per night?+
Shorty Peak Lookout costs $45 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Shorty Peak Lookout open?+
Shorty Peak Lookout is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Shorty Peak Lookout have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Shorty Peak Lookout?+
Shorty Peak Lookout is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Shorty Peak Lookout?+
Shorty 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 Shorty Peak Lookout?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Shorty Peak Lookout is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Shorty Peak Lookout open, and what are check-in times?+
Shorty Peak 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.

$45 /night★ 4.8 (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 Shorty Peak Lookout cost per night?+
What season is Shorty Peak Lookout open?+
Does Shorty Peak Lookout have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Beaver Creek (Idaho)

Nordman, ID

From $26/night

Reeder Bay

Priest Lake, ID

From $30/night

Snyder Guard Station (Id)

Bonners Ferry, ID

From $20/night

Deer Ridge Lookout

BONNERS FERRY, ID

From $45/night

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