🧯 Banner Ridge Lookout
Kootenai National Forest · Cabinet Ranger District
Opens in ~2 months
🏛️ Historic structure 1954
🏔️ 6,300 ft
Close-up views of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness and Bull Lake Valley. One of the closer-to-town lookouts with wilderness scenery.
Unknown access conditions today
Based on season, weather, wind, and snow. Scores update every 30 minutes.
Weather data temporarily unavailable
Access
🚗 Drive-to
High-clearance recommended
🛣️ Access road
Forest Rd 2785, 9 miles from Noxon
📅 Season
July 1 – September 30
Road distance from town: ~9.0 mi unpaved
Booking
Cabinet Mountains views. Good availability compared to Flathead lookouts.
Booking window: 6 months rolling via recreation.gov
🎫 Reserve on recreation.gov →
PeakScout availability data may be delayed — always verify on recreation.gov before making plans.
Amenities & Gear
👥 Capacity:
Up to 4 people
🛏️ Beds:1 double + 2 cots
🔥 Heating:Wood stove
🍳 Cooking:Propane stove (provided)
💧 Water:Cistern (may be dry late season)
🚽 Privy:
Yes
📞 Phone:
None — satellite recommended
🏗️ Structure:L-4 cab on steel tower (1954)
⚠️ Bring your own water unless a reliable source is confirmed with the ranger district. Most MT lookouts have no water or unreliable cisterns.
🐻 Wildlife
Black bear and mountain lion. Grizzly bears in Cabinet Mountains corridor — increasing population.
ℹ️ Notes
Cabinet Mountains grizzly population is recovering — bear spray and food storage critical even at this relatively accessible lookout.
⛑️ Before you go
✅ Check road conditions with the ranger district 24–48h before departure ·
✅ Carry bear spray and know how to use it ·
✅ Pack all water (source at site may be unreliable) ·
✅ Leave a trip plan with someone not going ·
✅ Bring a satellite communicator — no cell service at this location ·
Read full liability disclaimer →