USDA Forest Service · Montana
Diamond Butte Lookout
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- September 15 to April 30
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,203 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- DIAMOND BUTTE (NFSR 4001) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Custer Gallatin National Forest
- Nearest town
- ASHLAND
- Address
- PO BOX 168 2378 HWY 212, ASHLAND, MT, 59003
- Phone
- CALL FOR COMBINATION PRIOR TO YOUR STAY - M-F 8:00 TO 4:30 CALL 406-784-2344. AFTER HOURS OR WEEKENDS CALL 406-740-1594.
- Activities
- Camping, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Diamond Butte Lookout is perched atop a 30-foot masonry tower on Diamond Butte at an altitude of 4,245 feet in the Custer National Forest approximately 40 miles from
Ashland, Montana. The lookout was moved from its original location of Yeager Butte in 1958 and was an active fire lookout until 2001.
Guests can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. This vantage point offers the chance to enjoy sunrises, sunsets and star gazing on clear nights.
The lookout is accessible by car, but it is a 200-foot walk up a steep hill to the lookout from the parking area. Guests should be prepared to bring most of their own supplies and
gear.
Recreation
You can enjoy hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking near the lookout. Opportunities are available to enjoy off-road vehicle riding and hunting.
Facilities
The lookout can accommodate 4 people and is furnished with a table, chairs and1 twin bed with mattress, a double futon with mattress and a cot. Propane appliances include a cook stove with an oven, lights and a heater. A few cooking and eating utensils are provided, along with a broom, mop and bucket.
Parking and an outhouse with a pit toilet are located at the gate 200 feet below the lookout. A wagon is stored in the lookout's basement to help haul gear.
Water and electricity are not available. Guests must bring their own water for drinking, cooking and washing.
Items such as bedding, lanterns or flashlights, matches, extra toilet paper, first aid supplies, trash bags, dish soap, towels and an ice chest are not available. Guests are expected to pack out their trash and clean the cabin before leaving.
Natural Features
The lookout offers expansive views of the nearby hills and the distant Bighorn Mountains, which are about 100 miles away. Vegetation is sparse, but sagebrush and lupin thrive on the surrounding landscape.
Wildlife in the area includes fox, black bear, antelope and a variety of bird species ( bear safety ).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 14° | -25° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 33° | 11° | -28° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 44° | 24° | -2° | 75° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 50° | 30° | 5° | 79° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 43° | 28° | 86° | 4 of 11 |
| June | 74° | 53° | 41° | 104° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 62° | 49° | 106° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 60° | 48° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 75° | 52° | 33° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 61° | 37° | 22° | 82° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 49° | 28° | -9° | 69° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 36° | 19° | -2° | 56° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Moorhead Recreation Site · Bureau of Land Management · 13 mi
- Cow Creek Campground And Picnic Area · USDA Forest Service · 16 mi
- Blacks Pond Campground · USDA Forest Service · 19 mi
- Red Shale Campground · USDA Forest Service · 25 mi
- Holiday Spring Campground · USDA Forest Service · 27 mi
All public campgrounds in Montana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.