Recreation Rentals of the Pacific Northwest

US Forest Service

Map of Forests

Bureau of Land Management

Oregon and Washington

National Park Service

North Cascades

Evergreen Mountain Lookout - Washington

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

History

The lookout was built in 1935 for detecting wildfires. A fireguard or "lookout" stayed in the cabin during fire season watching for lightning strikes and forest fires in the Skykomish drainage. The lookout would site through an Osbourne Firefinder mounted to a stand in the center of the lookout. Once the lookout located a fire or smoke, he or she would radio to the Skykomish Ranger Station and give local landmarks to help firefighters locate the fire quickly.

Ellis and Faye Ogilvie, two of the Skykomish Ranger District lookouts in the early 1940s, met through a conversation over a two-way radio while they served as lookouts at Evergreen and Surprise Mountain. A short time later they wed and served together as the lookouts on Evergreen Mountain. During World War II, Evergreen Mountain was used as an Aircraft Warning Station. Ellis Ogilvie once said, "Evergreen Mountain was named wrong. It should have been called Everblack." The last big fire spotted on Evergreen Mountain, the Evergreen Fire in 1967, was inadvertently set by loggers during a timber operation on the south side of the mountain and burned the rocky south face of the ridge to within several hundred feet of the lookout. Remains of the fire are still evident. Evergreen Mountain Lookout remained active until the early 1980s.

In 1990 a local volunteer group adopted Evergreen Mountain Lookout and began restoration efforts. During restoration it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and nominated for the National Historic Lookout Register. Restoration was completed in 2000.

Description

The 14 x 14 foot lookout is comfortably furnished with one twin-sized bed and mattress, 3 extra mattresses, table, step stool, 6 folding chairs, twin burner propane stove, and 2 twin mantle propane lanterns. A wallow-wallow toilet (outhouse) is located several hundred feet down the ridge from the lookout. Water is not available at the site. Occupants should bring their own drinking, cooking and washing water.

Area Attractions & Activities

Beckler River Drainage. Views of Glacier Peak, Mt. Daniels, Keyes Peak, and Columbia Glacier, and parts of the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness can be seen on a clear day.

Amenities

• Outhouse
• No Water
• Propane Stove
• Propane Lanterns

Pets

Pets are allowed.

Smoking

No smoking.

Directions

The Lookout is located approximately 10 air miles northeast of the Skykomish Ranger Station. Access to the lookout is by foot at the end of 1.5 mile Forest Service Trail 1056 from the gravel Forest Service Road 6554.

Warning

This is an all-wood structure. Extreme caution must be taken when using lanterns, cook stoves, or any other appliances. Smoking is prohibited inside the lookout. Note the location of the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its use.