Openings · last 7 days
2
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-10110659
When Big Hole Lookout (MT) reopens
Big Hole Lookout (MT)'s openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
4
Openings · last 90 days
4
Only 4 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 14, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 27 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 14, 2026): 1 open for online reservation · 26 reserved.
Where the open windows are
96.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 1 of 27 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 14, 2026Not open online96.3%
Open site-nights1 / 27
Reserved (of online inventory)26 / 27
Weekday openings1
Weekend openings0
Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 1 fall on weekdays and 0 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October is fully reserved. 0 of 14 tracked site-nights are open there — 14 reserved.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 cabin| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open cabin-nights · tracked window| Cabin | Open cabin-nights |
|---|---|
| Big Hole Lookout | 1 |
This cabin currently has 1 cabin-night available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateWed · Sep 30
October0 of 14 · fully reserved
The next bookable night is Sep 30. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
1 open cabin-night across 1 cabin at Big Hole Lookout (MT), from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 1 cabin with current availability
| Cabin | Max RV | Hookups | Open cabin-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Hole Lookout | Not recorded | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 30 |
About Big Hole Lookout (MT)
Overview
The Big Hole Lookout offers guests an opportunity to experience an old-time Forest Service lookout. The tower commands an impressive 360 degree view of valleys and mountain ranges for miles and miles. The structure is small and is not elevated like many other lookouts, and is available for rent from June to early October each year.
2021 is the first year the lookout will be available to the public to rent. We are excited to offer this new, unique opportunity on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District.
The lookout can be accessed on the Big Hole Lookout Trail by foot, horse or bicycle for 3 miles, one way, on a easy to moderate trail. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. From Plains, Montana plan on at least a 60 - 90 minute drive to the Big Hole Lookout Trailhead on a steep and winding road.
Recreation
Big Hole Lookout has an amazing 360 degree view of several mountain peaks and ranges. Various non-motorized trails link to the site allowing renters to hike, bike, or ride for several miles. The area is popular for wildlife viewing, star gazing, and enjoying the piece and quiet of the backcountry.
Facilities
The 14-by-14 structure is small, but can accommodate up to four people. There is a twin bed for with a mattress pad, two cots, a table with two chairs, and a wood stove. No other furnishings are provided. A rustic outhouse with a vault toilet is available about 200 feet from the lookout. Guests will need to bring water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes, as well as their own bedding and cots for additional sleeping options, cooking and eating equipment and fuel, cooking and eating utensils, flashlights, matches and toilet paper, among other necessities. There is no water available at the site, however, 3/4 mile downhill of the lookout is a spring with non-potable water. There is room plenty of room outside the tower for tents or stock animals. Guests should be prepared for cold and often wet or damp weather, even if the weather in the valley is warm and dry. Food, garbage and other waste needs to be put away at all times to avoid attracting bears. Firewood may be collected locally for the wood stove.
Natural Features
Big Hole Peak Lookout was built for what was originally the Cabinet National Forest in 1930. It is a ‘Grange Hall’ type lookout; 14 feet square with four courses of large logs atop a short talus foundation. This type of lookout predates the standard L-4 design, and due to the difficulty in its construction, is quite rare. In fact Big Hole Peak Lookout is one of only two remaining intact lookouts of this kind on the Lolo National Forest. It was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 for the Lookouts on the Lolo Project. The site has not been used for fire detection purposes since 1972.
The 2 million-acre forest includes four wilderness areas and a wide variety of trees, plants and wildlife. The area is home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, deer and grizzly and black bears (learn more about bear safety). Both the bald and golden eagle reside in the forest, along with trumpeter swan, herons and dozens of varieties of ducks.
1 monitored cabinNo hookups
Getting there
From Plains, Montana travel northwest on Highway 200 for approximately 7.5 miles to Weeksville Creek Road (FR 887). From Thompson Falls, Montana travel southeast on Highway 200 for approximately 17.5 miles to Weeksville Creek Road (FR 887). Turn north onto Weeksville Creek Road (FR 887) and travel approximately 3 miles to Big Hole Road (FR 5587) and turn left. Travel the Big Hole Road for approximately 17.5 miles to the Big Hole Trailhead.
Po Box 429, Plains, MT 59859406-826-3821
BackpackingBerry PickingBirdingCampingFire Lookouts/Cabins OvernightHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHorse CampingHorseback RidingHuntingLookout TowerMountain BikingPhotographyStar GazingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-10110659 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-10110659 · Big Hole Lookout (MT) · Plains MT12 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Big Hole Lookout (MT)?
Reservations for Big Hole Lookout (MT) are made through Recreation.gov. 96.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 1 of 27 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 4 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Big Hole Lookout (MT)?
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site-date openings at Big Hole Lookout (MT) in the last 7 days, 4 over 30 days and 4 over the last 90.
Which month has the most availability at Big Hole Lookout (MT)?
September 2026, with 1 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 13.
When is the next open date at Big Hole Lookout (MT)?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Wed, Sep 30. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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