Cyclone Lookout, Flathead National Forest, May 15, 2023 – W. K. Walker
Cyclone Lookout Trail No. 40 is open. The trail needed very little work — a couple of small trees in the way and some minor brushing out. The golden-mantled ground squirrels (aka “giant chipmunks”) that live around the base of the tower are already up and active.
The trail is a moderate 2.77 mile (4.5 km) hike to the top of Cyclone Peak at 6000 feet (1830 m).
Good article . . .
From the Chief Mountain port of entry on the Montana-Canada border, a dedicated hiker can follow a series of backcountry trails, bike paths, old rail beds, paved roads, bushwhacks, and cow paths, all the way to the beach of Cape Alava, Wash., the westernmost point in the continental United States.
This stitched-together route connecting Glacier National Park and Olympic National Park, known as the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT), stretches 1,200 miles, “from the Rockies to the sea,” crossing seven National Forests, six wilderness areas, and three national parks, as well as tribal, municipal, and private lands in Montana, Idaho and Washington.
In December, the U.S. Forest Service released the final version of the PNT comprehensive plan, a document which outlines a vision for the non-motorized trail and provides guideposts for management, conservation and use into the future. The trail has only existed in its official capacity for 15 years, and like other early national scenic trails “much more work is needed to complete the optimal route from end to end,” the plan states.
T26-T3-PNT Intersection Sign, July 11, 2020 – W. K. Walker
This was a long time coming . . .
The U.S. Forest Service has released a comprehensive plan for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, marking a milestone for a route established in 2009 but used by hikers for decades prior. The Forest Service, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, released the document mid-December, outlining a vision for the trail and providing management, protection and use guidance.
“It’s been quite an effort to get to this point,” said Jeff Kish, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association.
The trail has existed in some capacity and seen use by hikers since the 1970s, Kish said. It was officially designated by Congress as part of the National Trails System in 2009, providing opportunities for hiking and backpacking across the Northwest United States, including through Lincoln County. The comprehensive plan is the latest step in a years-long process and fulfills requirements mandated by federal legislation.