Campsite Sniper
Montana · Recreation.gov

Granite Butte Lookout

46.8630° N / 112.4648° W · Data Nov 2 2026, checked hourly
Next open date Nov 3Next open weekend Apr 16, 20272 detected openings this week1 monitored site

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Granite Butte Lookout

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Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site openings here in the last 7 days
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01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-253491

When Granite Butte Lookout reopens

Granite Butte Lookout's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 7 days
2
Openings · last 30 days
7
Openings · last 90 days
12

Only 12 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 · Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027 · of 1 monitored site

Of the 183 tracked site-nights (Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027): 98 open for online reservation · 85 reserved.

Where the open windows are

46.4% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 98 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.

Load status

Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027
Not open online46.4%
Open site-nights98 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)85 / 183
Weekday openings77
Weekend openings21

Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 77 fall on weekdays and 21 on weekends (Fri–Sun).

Open dates by month

Nov 2026 – May 2027
010203040313171721243NOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYSOLID = OPEN SITE-NIGHTS · DASHED OUTLINE = TOTAL BOOKABLE

April holds the most room. 24 of 30 site-nights are still open there.

Holiday windows

Sites open per night · of 1 cabin
WindowNightSites openStatus
ThanksgivingTHU Nov 260None open
FRI Nov 270None open
SAT Nov 280None open
ChristmasTHU Dec 241Open
FRI Dec 250None open
New YearTHU Dec 310None open
FRI Jan 10None open
Memorial DayFRI May 280None open
SAT May 290None open
SUN May 300None open
MON May 310None open

Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: no cabin is currently available for the complete two-night stay. Friday has no online availability; individual Thursday night remains open. New Year: no online availability on any tracked night. Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.

Availability

Most open cabin-nights · tracked window
CabinOpen cabin-nights
GRANITE BUTTE LOOKOUT  98

This cabin currently has 98 cabin-nights available.

Next windows

As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshot
Next open dateTue · Nov 3
Next open weekendFri · Apr 16, 2027

The next bookable night is Nov 3; the first open weekend starts Apr 16, 2027. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.

Stays and site detail

98 open cabin-nights across 1 cabin at Granite Butte Lookout, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.

Multi-night stays. 22 2-night, 18 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Nov 3 at site GRANITE BUTTE LOOKOUT.

RV length. Longest recorded site here is 800 ft. 1 site takes 25 ft, 1 site takes 35 ft, 1 site takes 40 ft.

All 1 cabin with current availability
CabinMax RVHookupsOpen cabin-nightsLongest runDates
GRANITE BUTTE LOOKOUT800 ftNone9816 nightsNov 3, Nov 4, Nov 29, Dec 2, Dec 3, Dec 8, Dec 9, Dec 10, Dec 14, Dec 15, Dec 16, Dec 22 +86 more

About Granite Butte Lookout

Overview

The Granite Butte Lookout is located at 7,587 feet above sea level atop the Continental Divide of North America. The 15' by 15' lookout cabin sits atop a 20' tall wooden tower that was first built in 1932. The structure was rebuilt in 1962 and has been recently renovated. This tower was listed on the national register of historic lookouts in 2008 and offers guests a glimpse into the life of a Forest Service Lookout. Located near Lincoln, MT the lookout offers direct access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail which stretches along the back bone of the continent from Canada to Mexico. It is accessible by vehicle, but be forewarned, the road is rough towards the end and high-clearance vehicles are recommended. The lookout has the basic amenities including a bed, auxiliary cots, tables, chairs, dishes, cutlery, and a woodstove are provided, but guests should prepare to bring their own bedding, water, and propane.

Recreation

The Continental Divide Trail passes right by the lookout tower and offers guests access to as many miles as they care to hike, bike, or ride on horseback. There are several other trails for guests to explore within a 1/2 hour drive. The cabin also offers winter recreation opportunities with cross-country skiing opportunities out the back door and nearby access to over 200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails.

Facilities

The lookout is furnished with one twin bed with a mattress and three twin cots. The lookout can accommodate a maximum of four people. The lookout is equipped with a table, chairs, woodstove, propane cook stove, propane powered lanterns, silverware and dishes. An axe and splitting maul are available for splitting wood and firewood will usually be stacked at the base of the tower, but it is not guaranteed. The lookout does not have electricity or indoor plumbing. A vault toilet is on-site near the lookout. Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking and washing. Guests are advised to bring sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, propane, garbage bags and other personal effects. All garbage must be packed out and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving. A broom and cleaning supplies are provided.

Natural Features

The lookout is located atop a grassy ridge directly on the Continental Divide. The area around the cabin offers spectacular views, abundant wildflowers, high elevation white bark pine stands, open meadows, and large rock outcroppings. There are lower elevation conifer stands and streams located nearby as well.

Wildlife in the area abounds; including the more common elk, mule and white-tailed deer, squirrel, black bear, and a variety of birds. The more elusive grizzly bear, badger, wolverine, mountain lion, and lynx can be found here as well.

Nearby Attractions

The nearby town of Lincoln offers restaurants, bars, art galleries, a sculpture park, and many events that are put on in the community throughout the summer. Visitors can also access the scenic Blackfoot River and Copper Creek from town and the nearby area.

1 monitored cabinRVs up to 800 ftNo hookupsPets OKFire pitsMax party 4

Getting there

The lookout is located approximately 16 miles southeast of Lincoln. It can be reached via Stemple Pass Road #601, which leaves downtown Lincoln at the blinking light and joins Highway 279 north of Helena. Follow Stemple Pass Road for approximately 14 miles to the top of the pass and then turn onto Marsh Creek Road #485. Follow Marsh Creek Road south approximately 3 miles until the junction of the Granite Butte Road #4133. The road gets narrower and rougher at this point and climbs the final 1.5 miles up to the lookout tower. High clearance vehicles are strongly recommended for the Granite Butte Road #4133. During the winter months, the Stemple Pass Road is plowed in its entirety, but visitors will have to snowmobile or ski in the final 4.5 miles. There is plowed parking available at the Stemple Pass cross country ski area. There are two recommended routes into the lookout. One follows the road as outlined above and the other roughly follows the Continental Divide. If you are planning on snowmobiling into the lookout in the later winter months it is recommended that you take the upper route on the Continental Divide as the Marsh Creek Road develops large wind drifts that are generally impassable by snowmobiles. Please be sure to follow all applicable motorized use restrictions when accessing the lookout and only operate motorized vehicles where allowed. Maps of the ski and snowmobile routes are available at the Lincoln Ranger District and at the Stemple Pass Trailhead. Renters are advised to take a map with them if they are unfamiliar with the area.

1569 Highway 200, Lincoln, MT 59639406-362-7000
CampingCross Country SkiingFire Lookouts/Cabins OvernightHikingHuntingScenic DriveSnowmobileSnowshoeingWildlife Viewing

View on Recreation.gov ↗   Get directions ↗

FAQ

How do I get a reservation at Granite Butte Lookout?

Reservations for Granite Butte Lookout are made through Recreation.gov. 98 of 183 tracked site-nights are currently open (53.6%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 12 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 Nov 2, 2026 18:20 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 Granite Butte Lookout?

Campsite Sniper detected 2 site-date openings at Granite Butte Lookout in the last 7 days, 7 over 30 days and 12 over the last 90.

Can I get a multi-night stay at Granite Butte Lookout?

18 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Dec 8 at site GRANITE BUTTE LOOKOUT. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.

Which sites at Granite Butte Lookout fit a 35-foot RV?

1 of the 1 site that support RV analysis has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 800 ft.

Which month has the most availability at Granite Butte Lookout?

April 2027, with 24 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 30.

When is the next open date at Granite Butte Lookout?

As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Nov 3 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Apr 16, 2027. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.

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