Lolo National Forest

White Mountain, a US Forest Service Lookout since 1934, had been updated to an L4 Lookout cabin on a 41’ wooden tower in 1954.  It is on the National Register of Historic Lookouts. It has good views of the southern Bitterroot Mountains, the Great Burn Wilderness Study Area, the Idaho/Montana border and the Lolo National Forest.

Current access is hiking approximately 2 miles through forest and along a permanently closed road.

This summit is slightly prominent over the old Ninemile Lookout Site. A sign on the summit points to this old lookout site approximately 0.25 miles east. Elevation difference is 28’. All that remains of the lookout are four large concrete support blocks, burned wood and rusting hardware scattered on the ground. Slow growing subalpine fir tower to over 40’ on the site.

The remainer of the summit is dense old forest with oddly shaped rock outcrops of banded-argillite. Due to dense forest, there are very limited vistas of the valleys below. 

This is a drive-up summit into the activation zone.  A couple of concrete blocks and a tall steel antenna mast indicate the site was a possible old Timber Company repeater station when the land was under different ownership. The summit ownership is now US Forest Service. The road access is good for most vehicles down to a ‘Subaru-class’.  Some maps and web descriptions term this summit Lolo Springs Lookout.

Drive-up: The access road terminates within the activation zone and an 80’ walk tops the summit.

Elevation gain from vehicle: Less than 40’

Point 118 hosts a Missoula County communication site.  It is a rocky prominence with excellent views of the distant Selway- Bitterroot Wilderness’ rugged northern mountains.  Access is by foot or bicycle on a permanently gated road.  The summit is approximately 200 feet from this communication site. I experienced no RF interference or desense from the communications site at the summit.  There are various sized trees available for hanging antennas or attaching antenna poles.

Hike or Bike miles roundtrip:  4

Elevation gain: 475’

Summit 7112 is at the head of Ninemile Creek and overlooks the Clark Fork valley to the north. It is a pleasant hike on cooler summer days.  The on-trail and off-trail are currently exposed with very little tree cover. It will remain open until lodgepole pine regeneration grows for another decade or two.  The summit offers good views of the Mission Mountains and summits of the Reservation Divide.  Snags are abundant so exercise caution especially on windy days. 

Hike miles roundtrip:  1 on-trail #98 and 1 mile off-trail