Openings · last 7 days
1
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site opening here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234389
When West Fork Butte Lookout reopens
West Fork Butte Lookout's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
3
Openings · last 90 days
3
Only 3 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, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 183 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 83 open for online reservation · 94 reserved · 6 closed.
Where the open windows are
54.6% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 83 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online54.6%
Open site-nights83 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)94 / 177
Weekday openings57
Weekend openings26
Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 57 fall on weekdays and 26 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027October shows no online availability. 0 of 31 tracked site-nights are open there — 30 reserved, 1 closed.
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 | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked night. New Year: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open cabin-nights · tracked window| Cabin | Open cabin-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 83 |
This cabin currently has 83 cabin-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateWed · Sep 23
Next open weekendFri · Dec 11
October0 of 31 · no online availability
The next bookable night is Sep 23; the first open weekend starts Dec 11. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
83 open cabin-nights across 1 cabin at West Fork Butte Lookout, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 14 2-night, 14 3-night, 2 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Dec 6 at site 001.
All 1 cabin with current availability
| Cabin | Max RV | Hookups | Open cabin-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 83 | 15 nights | Sep 23, Dec 2, Dec 6, Dec 7, Dec 8, Dec 9, Dec 10, Dec 11, Dec 13, Dec 14, Dec 15, Dec 16 +71 more |
About West Fork Butte Lookout
Overview
West Fork Butte Lookout is an ideal place for guests to experience the mountains south of Missoula from a unique vantage point. The facility provides near-360-degree views of the surrounding area. It is equipped with basic supplies and provides guests a base camp location from which to explore the area. Access by vehicle is available for a relatively short time during the summer months and is variable during the spring and fall. From December 1 - May 1 Forest Road 37 is closed, requiring hiking, skiing or snowmobiling roughly 7.5 miles to the facility. Outside of these dates the road may be muddy, snowy or icy - guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
Hiking trails are available in the area. Visitors often bring cross-country skis or snowshoes for wintertime fun. Snowmobiles are often used to reach the lookout in the winter, and there is a system of groomed trails to explore nearby.
Fishing is available in Lolo Creek.
Facilities
The lookout can sleep up to four people and is equipped with bunk beds and mattress pads. The lookout also has a table and chairs, a propane cook stove and lantern, as well as a wood stove for heat. Cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils, cookware and other amenities may be available, but are not always guaranteed; call for availability, (406) 329-3814. A vault toilet is provided.
Guests should bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes. Bedding and towels, propane fuel canisters, flashlights, matches, lighters, garbage bags, toilet paper and cleaning supplies are not supplied at the facility. Guests are responsible for cleaning the lookout prior to departure.
Natural Features
The 14-by-14' lookout is situated on a rocky knob with spectacular views of the surrounding area, including Lolo Peak, the Bitterroot Mountains and the Lolo Creek drainage. The lookout is close to the Montana-Idaho border and Lolo Pass.
The surrounding forest is comprised primarily of lodgepole pine and larch. The area is home to elk, moose, deer and black bears.
1 monitored cabinNo hookupsMax party 4
Getting there
From Missoula, travel south on Highway 93 to Lolo. Turn onto Highway 12 and continue west for 17 miles, following Lolo Creek to Forest Road 37. Turn left onto Road 37, and cross the concrete bridge over Lolo Creek. . There are two gates along the route to the lookout. The first is located near the beginning of Forest Road 37 not far from the concrete bridge over Lolo Creek. This gate is open during the summer months, closed in the winter and variable during the spring and fall. The second gate is located roughly 7 miles from the intersection of Forest Road 37 and Highway 12. This gate is always closed and has a lock with the same combination as the lookout. After crossing the concrete bridge over Lolo Creek, continue past the old buildings. The road turns sharply to the left and begins to climb out of the drainage bottom. The first gate is located just after the road turns to the left. Follow Forest Road 37 for approximately 7 miles to the second intersection. Turn a sharp left, open the locked gate using the combination provided by the Missoula Ranger Station and travel through . Close the gate behind you and follow the road a half mile to the lookout. During the winter and early spring months the gate near the beginning of Forest Road 37 is closed and locked to provide skiing and snowmobiling opportunities and to protect roadbed surfaces during spring break-up conditions. When the gate is locked, visitors can park at the parking area below the gate, and follow the route via snowmobile, skis or foot 7.5 miles to the lookout. Maps are available online or for purchase by calling the Missoula Ranger District.
24 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804406-329-3814
BikingCampingHikingWildlife ViewingWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234389 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234389 · West Fork Butte Lookout · Missoula MT8 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at West Fork Butte Lookout?
Reservations for West Fork Butte Lookout are made through Recreation.gov. 83 of 183 tracked site-nights are currently open (45.4%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 3 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 14:17 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 West Fork Butte Lookout?
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site-date opening at West Fork Butte Lookout in the last 7 days, 3 over 30 days and 3 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at West Fork Butte Lookout?
14 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Dec 6 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at West Fork Butte Lookout?
January 2027, with 23 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at West Fork Butte Lookout?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Wed, Sep 23 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Dec 11. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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