Big Creek Baldy Lookout, Libby, MT

Big Creek Baldy Lookout is located in the Libby Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest (3 hrs 12 min northeast of Coeur d'Alene, ID) with an elevation of 5,779 feet. The site is normally open from the end of June to the end of September. There is a fee of $55.00 per night. Activities include hiking trails.
Make a Reservation
Big Creek Baldy LookoutBig Creek Badly HostessBIG CREEK BALDY double bedBig Creek Baldy LookoutBig Creek Baldy LookoutBig Creek Baldy-cooking

Campsite Reviews (15)

4.9 out of 5

5 star
87%
4 star
13%
3 star
0%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%
@WinterC9750637 · Camped on Jul 10, 2024 at Campsite #1
Beautiful 360 views! The stairs are a bit steeper than they look but are do-able and there is a pully system to help with getting your items to the top. Lookout itself has 3 windows that open and is bigger than some of the others we have stayed at. 10/10 would recommend.
@DonZ4434509 · Camped on Aug 14, 2023 at Campsite #1
Clean, well maintained, newer paint. Three opening windows with screens is huge help for keeping the inside of the cabin cool. Really appreciate the gated access to help keep other people out while we enjoy our time at the tower.
@KristenB526611 · Camped on Jul 2, 2023 at Campsite #1
My family and I had so much fun at the lookout! It's definitely worth all of the hiking up and down those steps. The views are beautiful and we enjoyed seeing the runs on Turner Mountain. We strung up hammocks under the structure and did a lot of relaxing. We did hike down the ridge a ways as it was marked as a trail and there are cairns marking the way. Two things of note that are not listed in the description: there's a gate at the bottom of the road (last mile) with a padlock. The code for the padlock is the same code as the padlock on the gate that closes off the platform/entry to the lookout. Both the road gate and platform gate are heavy. The other important detail is that while the maximum number of people allowed to stay in the lookout is 4, it only sleeps 3 people! I had read that it has a full and a twin in the description but others mention "mattresses" so I assumed there was at least one extra mattress for the fourth person. Nope! My 13 y.o. daughter slept uncomfortably in the twin with my 9 y.o. the first night, but opted to sleep on the linoleum floor the second night. One other inconvenience was that the gas that powers the stove and lanterns was not turned on when we arrived. We stayed there July 2&3 which I believe is the beginning of the season for the lookout so the USFS folks must have just forgotten to flip it on. Luckily my husband was able to find the main gas line and turned it on.
@AllisonD915411 · Camped on Jun 30, 2023 at Campsite #1
Awesome lookout! Bring your own fly swatters though, the only one there was pretty tattered- I would’ve donated a few had I known. The road past the gate is pretty rocky in spots and steep- doable but was glad to have a truck and not my Subaru.
@RobertaS577325 · Camped on Jul 25, 2022 at Campsite #1
Absolutely thankful to the Forest Service that they chose to share these fire lookouts with all of us. Our history of these towers can teach us so much, and spending a night is a special experience I hope many many more will enjoy as much as we did.
@AmberJ1835575 · Camped on Jul 17, 2022 at Campsite #1
The kitchen was well stocked and appreciated that propane was provided. Views are great! Directions didn't mention you had to unlock a gate to access the last stretch of the road to the lookout. The road after the gate is rougher as other reviews mentioned.
@Francine590214 · Camped on Jun 30, 2022 at Campsite #1
We had 2 amazing nights at the lookout. Clear skies for amazing stars. We took a short hike off the road, at the signpost closeby, and followed the stone markers. Mostly we just sat n enjoyed the quiet & beauty. Highly recommend following the directions from Libby. We charted our own course from Eureka and had a long drive with lots of downed trees.
@JakeO2288389 · Camped on Aug 9, 2021 at Campsite #1
This was my wife and I's first time staying in a lookout tower and first time out west/seeing the mountains in person. The entire experience was absolutely stunning and we can't wait to go back! The tower and outhouse were very clean, reading some of the past book entries it's apparent that everyone who stays there respects the history and beauty of this tower. If you haven't been here before make sure you're ready for the wind :) Needless to say, we can't wait to go back!
@JakeO436 · Camped on Aug 9, 2021 at Campsite #1
This was my wife and I's first time staying in a lookout tower and first time out west/seeing the mountains in person. The entire experience was absolutely stunning and we can't wait to go back! The tower and outhouse were very clean, reading some of the past book entries it's apparent that everyone who stays there respects the history and beauty of this tower. If you haven't been here before make sure you're ready for the wind :) Needless to say, we can't wait to go back!
@WALLACEM298 · Camped on Jul 2, 2021 at Campsite #1
It was a great fire lookout with amazing views!
@WALLACEM905688 · Camped on Jul 2, 2021 at Campsite #1
It was a great fire lookout with amazing views!
@AmberK2385014 · Camped on Jul 16, 2020 at Campsite #1
Very nice lookout. It was great to have propane heaters and a propane stove. Comfortable beds compared to most of the lookouts. Very nice
@AmberK206 · Camped on Jul 16, 2020 at Campsite #1
Very nice lookout. It was great to have propane heaters and a propane stove. Comfortable beds compared to most of the lookouts. Very nice
@BobG364 · Camped on Jul 11, 2019 at Campsite #1
The lookout and accommodations were great and what I expected. Great views in all directions and a very nice shot of Turner Mountain ski area. Be aware the lookout is a long ways above the ground if you are bothered by heights. In the area of the lookout the trail maintenance seems to be nonexistent. Hiking is possible, but mountain biking would very challenging if you can find the trails. Overall a wonderful experience.
@BobG3666609 · Camped on Jul 11, 2019 at Campsite #1
The lookout and accommodations were great and what I expected. Great views in all directions and a very nice shot of Turner Mountain ski area. Be aware the lookout is a long ways above the ground if you are bothered by heights. In the area of the lookout the trail maintenance seems to be nonexistent. Hiking is possible, but mountain biking would very challenging if you can find the trails. Overall a wonderful experience.

Other Campgrounds Nearby

We track all the sites so you don't have to.

Reservation Systems

Campsites Tracking

Campsite Reviews

Available Tonight

Available this Weekend

Cancellations Today

PRO $2.50/month

You're in Control. We never save credit card information or auto-renew subscriptions.
  1. Availability Map Search
  2. 3000+ Interactive Campground Maps
  3. Campground Virtual Tours
  4. Save Your Favorite Campsites
  5. Favorite Campsites Availability
  6. Campground Mobile Speed Test Maps
  7. National Parks, Forests & Ranger District Layers
  8. Wildfires & Air Quality Map Layer
  9. Satellite View Map Layer
  10. Campsite SMS Cancellation Alerts
  11. Rent your Property & Cabins
  12. Love's & Super Walmart Map Layers
  13. Cracker Barrel & Bass Pro Shop Map Layers
  14. Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) Layer
  15. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Map Layer
  16. RV Propane, Parking, Dump, Water Map Layer
Pro is FREE for 7 days. (No credit card information required!)

Thanks to all our Supporting Members

@BranJen - Santa Clara, CA

I wanted to thank you for this site and especially for the notifications feature. Thanks to your site and my subscription I was able to book a campsite I've been annoyingly trying to book for 5 years unsuccessfully. So thank you.

@Wondering - Oregon

Wow! Woke up this morning to a notification that a favorite had opened at Paulina, and when I went to check, it was there. This membership just paid for itself in the first 24 hours I owned it. Couldn't take the site it conflicted with a trip already set, but it truly was there. Thanks Tons.

@CarlaLThompson - Colorado

I just love this site and I tell everyone about it! It's so competitive to secure desired campsites and the alerts really help track when sites free up. The best part of this story is our alert notified a cancellation the next day!!!!!! Just incredible!!!

Map Settings
Reset
Satellite View
Satellite
Wildfires
Wildfires
National Forests
National Forests
National Parks
National Parks
Air Quality
Air Quality
Bureau of Land Management
BLM
Motor Vehicle Use Maps
OHV MVUM
Love's Travel Stop
Love's
D
Dump Stations
W
Water
LP
Propane
P
RV Parking
Walmart Supercenter
Super Walmart
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel
Bass Pro Shop
Bass Pro Shops
 
Rating:
Price*:
Length:
Amps:
Elev:
feet
Temp:
°F
Down:
Up:
*Earn our Leave No Trace badge to see our free camping sites.