Trail Overview

Suntop Fire Lookout is one of the 93 still-standing fire lookouts in Washington, the road to the top is opened seasonally when it is staffed by volunteers. The fire lookout can be visited anytime throughout the year. If the access gate is closed, you can access the lookout by hiking a short .6-mile trail, or you can walk the road. The road to Suntop itself is well well-maintained 2-lane hard dirt-packed trail to the parking lot where you would hike from. The final .5 miles after the gate to the summit is more worn out with some deeper 6" ruts and will require caution by 2wd or low clearance vehicles.

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Difficulty

The road to the parking lot is a well-maintained dirt hard-packed 2-lane road. After the gate when seasonally opened it is more rough with 8" deep ruts and large rocks, but are passable with caution.

History

Suntop was built in 1932, it is a 14 x 14' L4 style fire lookout. Until 1956, there was no road to the top, all supplies were brought up to the lookout by backpack or mules. It was used as an Aircraft Warning Service site in WWII.

Technical Rating

Stephen

Jun 20, 2026

Open

The fire lookout volunteers were there opening the lookout for the season, fun to meet and chat with them. The road itself is great until you gget to the last gate. There's some washouts that will probably get worse with more travel and rain. At this time people made it up in their CRV and Crosstrek without issue. I think anything less than 8" of ground clearance will have trouble. Amazing view at the top. There's a vault toilet if you need a pitstop. If you walk towards the mountain on the trail below the lookout you can get to a great view. The trail takes you down to a USGS obsveration site.

Wojtek

Jun 14, 2026

Open

Trail open, tree removes. Lots of rocks on the trail, run into some bikes and on the way back a group of cars. Nice drive.

Jared Behunin

Jun 13, 2026

Open

Gate closed at the upper trailhead. Beautiful. Road clear. To the top.

Jason Wright

May 07, 2026

Open

Downed tree at 47.06267, -121.5952. Too big for most vehicles to drive over. Looks like someone has cleared the trail up until that point.

Soren Hambach

Apr 16, 2026

Open

The lower gate to Sun Top Lookout is closed and locked.

James Vollrath

Feb 22, 2026

Open

Kris Rooks

Nov 30, 2025

Open

Gate closed at the bottom of the trail.

RJ Sarka

Aug 09, 2025

Open

Trail was in good shape but had significant potholes and washboard in some sections. Saw many 2wd drive vehicles up there, but would recommend something with higher clearance for the potholes etc. Worth Noting, we had hopes of sleeping up near the fire lookout, but they close the cate at the very top at 8pm every night and open it at 8am, so you are not able to camp near the fire lookout. We camped with no problem near the gate, there is a big parking lot / cleared area there. You could hike up to the lookout if you want to camp up there after 8pm, but no driving.

s t

May 24, 2025

Open

The trail is open up until the last mile. the lookout and last mile is open when staffed. But can hike up - less than a mile one way , but bit steep - for the views from lookout. very simple gravel road any car with decent clearance can do. Just need to deal with the potholes.

wade agin

Apr 19, 2025

Open

Snow still on trail about 4000 feet. Deep and slick. Slides towards cliff side. If still there when re-opens be careful after 4000 feet.

Chase G

Jan 01, 2025

Open

Closed dec 15-may 1st

Justin Balius

Nov 14, 2024

Open

Lot of pot holes on the trail from from 410 but trail was in good condition, wet snow above 4500' about a mile from the look out

Max Finch

Oct 12, 2024

Open

Trail was open, the park ranger stated this weekend was the last weekend the gate would be open. Maybe a mile walk up when it’s closed. (10/12/24)