Suntop Fire Lookout

Trail Overview

Suntop Fire Lookout is one of the 93 still-standing fire lookouts in Washington, the road to the top is opened seasonally when it is staffed by volunteers. The fire lookout can be visited anytime throughout the year. If the access gate is closed, you can access the lookout by hiking a short .6-mile trail, or you can walk the road. The road to Suntop itself is well well-maintained 2-lane hard dirt-packed trail to the parking lot where you would hike from. The final .5 miles after the gate to the summit is more worn out with some deeper 6" ruts and will require caution by 2wd or low clearance vehicles.

Photos of Suntop Fire Lookout

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Difficulty

The road to the parking lot is a well-maintained dirt hard-packed 2-lane road. After the gate when seasonally opened it is more rough with 8" deep ruts and large rocks, but are passable with caution.

History

Suntop was built in 1932, it is a 14 x 14' L4 style fire lookout. Until 1956, there was no road to the top, all supplies were brought up to the lookout by backpack or mules. It was used as an Aircraft Warning Service site in WWII.

Technical Rating