Can you reserve a site at Mission Lookout?

Yes, Mission Lookout is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Mission Lookout, Montana — 1 site, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Mission Lookout towers above the forest canopy, providing guests with unrivaled 360-degree views of the beautiful Swan Range, Mission Mountains and Swan Lake. The site served for 75 years as a fire detection tower, and the current lookout has been around since its construction in 1959.

The tower can be accessed by vehicle. A parking area is adjacent to the facility. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Will sleep up to 4 people. Dogs are NOT ALLOWED in the Lookout.

Recreation

Along with the spectacular scenery, the immediate area offers visitors an unlimited array of outdoor activities ranging from fishing and swimming at the nearby Swan Lake, to watching migratory waterfowl at the wildlife viewing area.

Hunting is also popular not far from the lookout. Shooting within 150 yards of the Lookout or from/across roads is prohibited.

A variety of hiking and mountain biking trails can be found in the area.

Facilities

The 15-by-15 facility sits atop a 40-foot tower. It is equipped with a built-in double bed and two folding cots, to accommodate up to four adults. The lookout also has a propane cooking stove, simple cooking utensils and a table with four chairs. A modern vault toilet, picnic area and fire ring are located at the base of the tower.

No water or electricity is available. Guests should bring plenty of water, bedding, food, firewood, toiletries and a non-open flame light source, such as a battery-powered lantern, as candles are not allowed within the cabin. href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/flathead/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=67022&actid=101">Click here for more cabin details.

Natural Features

At an elevation of approximately 3,700 feet, the cabin affords views of Flathead National Forest, including the Mission Mountains and Swan Lake.

A variety of wildlife make its home in the area.

Nearby Attractions

The town of Swan Lake, about 15 minutes away, has a general store with limited groceries and a restaurant.

The facts

Season: May 15th — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
1 bookable site
Up to 4 people per site
Loops: AREA MISSION LOOKOUT

Site types

1 Cabin Nonelectric

Book on Recreation.gov

1 campsite at Mission Lookout

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
001	AREA MISSION LOOKOUT	Cabin Nonelectric	—	—	—	4

Getting there

From Swan Lake, travel south on Highway 83 for 3 miles. Turn west onto Porcupine Creek Road 10229 (mile-marker 68). After passing Forest Road 9714, turn right onto Forest Road 9803 (2.2 miles after leaving the state highway). Continue on Forest Road 9803 for 1.4 miles, to a gate. The gate may be opened. If not, it can be opened with the same combination code as the tower. The tower and parking area are located just beyond the gate.

47.89417, -113.87306 · 47°53'39.0"N 113°52'23.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 82°F in Jul, down to 30°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	31	36	45	54	64	71	82	82	70	55	39	30
Low °F	18	18	26	31	38	44	48	46	39	32	26	20
Precip in	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

Mission Lookout is available for $45 a night for a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights. Within the maximum window (a rolling 6 month window), the maximum consecutive stay rule is 7 days and there is a Stay Beyond Maximum Window where customers can book past the 6 month rolling window if there is availability on the last day(s) of the maximum window.

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Common questions about Mission Lookout

Can you reserve a site at Mission Lookout?: Yes, Mission Lookout is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Mission Lookout have?: 1 site.

Also listed by

Mission Lookout also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Mission Lookout's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

For fee information, visit Recreation.gov

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Mission Lookout

Swan Guard Station 2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Swan Lake Campground 3.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Anna Creek Cabin 19.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Swan Lake Swimming Site 3 mi · Facility
Van Lake Campground and Day Use 14.4 mi · Campground
Billy Garret Memorial Bridge Access 15.2 mi · Facility
Peter's Creek Campground 15.5 mi · Campground
Spotted Bear Campground 16.2 mi · Campground
Graves Creek Campground 16.4 mi · Campground
Devil Creek Campground 17 mi · Campground
Devil's Corkscrew Campground 17 mi · Campground
Handkerchief Lake 17.2 mi · Facility

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Mission Lookout