Salmo Lookout

Total Miles 14.3
Technical Rating
3 Easy
Best Time Summer
Trail Type Full-Width Road
Accessible By
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Trail Overview

Gravel USFS roads from Sullivan Lake to the Salmo Mountain summit lookout have access to a wide variety of 4WD routes, campsites, lakes, streams, and hiking trailheads, and are suitable for bicycles and horseback riding. This is a very narrow road with very limited passing areas, rocky gravel, some washouts, and steep slopes to the summit. There is lots of parking just below the summit and also at the lookout with beautiful views of Idaho and Canada and the Salmo-Priest Wilderness Area of Washington. No OHVs/ATVs are allowed without a USFS permit.

Photos of Salmo Lookout

Difficulty

High clearance vehicles are recommended on the upper summit route; expect washouts, rocks, steep slopes, some water on route, and snow anytime between fall and early summer. Washouts and floods are common in the valley below. Passing is extremely limited on the summit route.

History

The USFS Lookout is no longer used, but the building is intact and borders the Salmo-Priest Wilderness Area.

Technical Rating

3

Status Reports

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Creeping Jeep Chris
Jun 11, 2025
Open
last 100 meters had big snow drifts still. Will be gone in a couple weeks. smooth 2wd roads til the last couple miles after the left turn toward the top.

Salmo Lookout Trail can be accessed by the following ride types:

  • High Clearance
  • Full Width

Salmo Lookout Map

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