USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Lunch Peak Lookout
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- July 11 to October 3
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,178 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- LUNCH PEAK (NFSR 1091) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Idaho Panhandle National Forests
- Nearest town
- SANDPOINT
- Address
- 1602 Ontario Street, SANDPOINT, ID, 83864
- Phone
- 208-263-5111. WEEKDAYS 8:00AM TO 4:30PM. CLOSED ON WEEKENDS. CANNOT ACCEPT OR CANCEL RESERVATIONS
- 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
Lunch Peak lookout offers breathtaking views of Cabinet Mountain Wilderness, the Selkirk Mountains and Lake Pend Oreille. Located in the Cabinet Mountains, 35 miles northeast of Sandpoint, Idaho, the lookout sits at 6,414 ft. Guests can enjoy easy access to Pend Oreille Divide Trail #67.
The lookout is remote and rustic with no heat, furnishings, water or cooking facilities. This basic structure lets visitors experience the feeling of "roughing it" while enjoying the cozy shelter and incredible views of the mountains and valleys below.
Recreation
The Pend Oreille Divide Trail #67 starts just below the lookout and is suitable for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. It follows ridge lines for much of its length and offers great views in all directions. A nice day hike is out to Mt. Pend Oreille and back. 8 miles roundtrip.
Facilities
The 15'x15' cabin was remodeled in 2002 and sits atop a 15' high cinder block foundation. No water or heat is provided. The lookout has limited furnishings which include a sleeping platform, table and cabinet. A modern vault toilet is located at the Pend Oreille Divide trailhead, 300 feet away.
The last four miles of the access road is rough in spots and high clearance vehicles are necessary.
Natural Features
The lookout is located northeast of Sandpoint, Idaho and Lake Pend Oreille at an elevation of 6,414 feet.
Bear, deer, elk, and cougar are among the wildlife native to the area. Visitors are cautioned to be aware of and practice bear safety while staying at Lunch Peak Lookout.
Nearby Attractions
The closest convenience store and fuel is located in Hope, Idaho, approximately 20 miles or a one hour drive.
Charges & Cancellations
CLOSED 2021
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25° | 16° | -30° | 31° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 23° | 13° | -22° | 37° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 30° | 17° | -2° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 35° | 21° | 7° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 48° | 30° | 22° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| June | 55° | 36° | 26° | 73° | 6 of 11 |
| July | 70° | 47° | 36° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 70° | 47° | 39° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 57° | 41° | 27° | 72° | 3 of 11 |
| October | 43° | 29° | 23° | 63° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 30° | 23° | 1° | 47° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 24° | 19° | -14° | 36° | 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
- Huckleberry · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Sam Owen · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 82 sites
- Spar Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Yaak River Campground (MT) · USDA Forest Service · 16 mi · 46 sites
- Green Bay Campground · USDA Forest Service · 17 mi · 17 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.