Campsite Sniper
Idaho · Recreation.gov

Little Guard Lookout

47.7980° N / 116.0064° W · Data Sep 18 2026, checked hourly
1 monitored site

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Little Guard Lookout

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Opening record
No detected openings in the last 90 days

No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Little Guard Lookout continuously and will alert you if that changes.

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01 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 · of 1 monitored site

Of the 120 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027): 120 unavailable (cause unspecified).

No online availability right now

Of the 120 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027): 120 unavailable (cause unspecified). A free alert tells you if any date opens online.

Load status

Sep 18, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
Not open online100%
Open site-nights0 / 120

Of the 120 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027): 120 unavailable (cause unspecified).

Open dates by month

Sep 2026 – Jan 2027
0102030400 OPEN0 OPEN0 OPEN0 OPEN0 OPENSEPOCTNOVDECJANSOLID = OPEN SITE-NIGHTS · DASHED OUTLINE = TOTAL BOOKABLE

No month in range currently shows online availability. 0 open site-nights across the tracked window — these site-nights are marked unavailable.

Holiday windows

Sites open per night · of 1 cabin
WindowNightSites openStatus
Labor DaySAT Sep 50None open
SUN Sep 60None open
MON Sep 70None open
ThanksgivingTHU Nov 260None open
FRI Nov 270None open
SAT Nov 280None open
ChristmasTHU Dec 240None open
FRI Dec 250None open
New YearTHU Dec 310None open
FRI Jan 10None 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.

About Little Guard Lookout

Overview

Little Guard Lookout, located about 9 miles north of Shoshone Camp, was one of the last remaining fire lookouts used in the Coeur d'Alene River area and has only just recently become inactive.

The structure standing today on Little Guard Peak is the third in a series of lookout buildings that originated back to 1919. In October 1990, Little Guard Lookout was accepted for listing in the National Historic Lookout Register and the first for Idaho.

Recreation

Hiking is a great way to explore and take in the scenery of the grand mountains. The lookout provides access to the Shoshone Ridge Trail #81, a very nice day hike for visitors to the lookout. The trail provides many scenic viewpoints, but there is no source of water along the way, so hikers must bring plenty of their own.

Facilities

The fully furnished two-story fire lookout has dimensions of 14 x 14 feet, an external cat walk, and a gabled roof. It sleeps four guests, with one single bed and three fold-up cots available. Quarters are tight and at least two cots will need to be set up downstairs in the kitchen area.

The kitchen is on the ground floor and is equipped with a small propane refrigerator, propane cook stove, table, chairs and basic cooking utensils. Propane for the stove and refrigerator is also provided.

The outdoor pit toilet is within 200 feet of the lookout. It comes with biodegradable toilet paper. Other amenities include a propane heater upstairs and propane lanterns, but renters will need to bring their own propane for these.

No water or electricity is available. Visitors should bring plenty of water. A mountain spring is within a half-mile by footpath, and can be boiled and treated for consumption.

In addition to water, guests should bring food, propane for lanterns and heater, matches or lighters, warm clothing, garbage bags, insect repellent, towels and washcloths, toiletries, dish soap and a first aid kit. Air mattresses or sleeping pads are also recommended.

Natural Features

At an elevation of 6,031 feet, the lookout boasts spectacular views overlooking the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River and the Bitterroot Mountains, with views of nearby Downey Peak to the northwest.

Wildlife in the area includes mule deer, moose, osprey and calliope hummingbirds.

1 monitored cabinNo hookupsMax party 4

Getting there

From I-90, take Exit #43 (Kingston) and drive 24 miles north on Forest Highway 9 to Prichard junction. From there, continue on Forest Road 208 for about 5 miles to Forest Road 602 (on the right just past Shoshone Base Camp). Drive about 9 miles to the lookout at the end of the road. Vehicles with high clearance and good tires are strongly recommended.

173 Commerce Dr. P.O. Box 159, Smelterville, ID 83868208-783-2363
CampingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHuntingWildlife Viewing

View on Recreation.gov ↗   Get directions ↗

FAQ

How do I get a reservation at Little Guard Lookout?

Campsite Sniper's current snapshot shows none of the 120 tracked site-nights open for online reservation at Little Guard Lookout. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. 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 17:19 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.

Does Little Guard Lookout have online availability right now?

As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot, none of the 120 tracked site-nights are open for online reservation. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. A free Campsite Sniper alert tells you if any date opens online.

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