I was tipped-off by K7DJL that Salmo was nearly a drive-up summit not too far from our planned camp on Priest Lake. Turned out that it was a fun scenic drive through cedar and hemlock forest and over a couple of mountain passes. The summit looks into Canada so we decided to spend the night in the saddle between the 1960s era US Forest Service Lookout and the actual summit.
Lookout Mountain is a US Forest Service active Lookout. Though not has high as some surrounding summits, it is typical of lookouts having good forest views. The summit is accessible by automobile. Trees are available for hanging wire antennas.
Apparently seasonal lookout personnel or visitors erect tipis frequently near the summit. Along the Hugh’s Creek road you will pass a Historic US Forest Service Ranger’s cabin. It was built in 1899. It is worth a visit.
Mineral Peak is an inactive US Forest Service Lookout and active Communication site. It sits near the boundary of the Rattlesnake Wilderness and Rattlesnake National Recreation areas. Summits views are good of the Rattlesnake mountains and a couple of distant cirque lakes. Access is via trail up the Rattlesnake Corridor, approximately 16.5 miles or via a poorly maintained high clearance rough road approximately 5 miles off the East Fork Rattlesnake and Gold Creek Roads.I parked and hiked the rough road. An alternative is the Rattlesnake corridor route where one can m