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).
Cyclone Lookout, Flathead National Forest, May 15, 2023 – W. K. Walker
The snow is coming off way early this spring. We cleared Cyclone Lookout Trail #40 yesterday, May 15, about two weeks earlier than last year. There were a few patches of snow up top, but nothing of any consequence.
Cyclone Lookout, June 1, 2022 – W. K. Walker
Delayed by the slow melt-out due to record cool temperatures in May, we decided to see if we could get to Cyclone Lookout on June 1. We actually got all the way to the top! The first mile is now cut out, including five or six trees blocking the road that forms the first half-mile of Trail 40 on its way to the summit. There are another 13 chainsaw-worthy blow-downs across the trail further up that we’ll go back for soon, although we did at least turn them into step-overs for now. UPDATE on June 8: All blow-downs have been cut out. The trail is completely clear.
As we were getting ready to leave the lookout, a Customs and Border Patrol helicopter circled in and dropped off a couple of folks to perform maintenance on their repeater up there.