Lookout Mountain Roadless Area

Index to the other Roadless areas in the Western Okanogan National Forest

Selected campfire stories from this area from Lost and Forgotten - A Trail Guide to Roadless Area Hikes and Vistas in Western Okanogan County

Lookout & McClure Mountain, RA 811

Lookout Mountain roadless area is a centerpiece for Methow Valley residents, offering summit vistas of much of the central Methow area. Lookout Mountain is at the eastern end of the ridge connecting it to the Blackpine Lake area and the Chelan-Sawtooth roadless area. The area is bordered by Poorman Creek, Twisp River, Methow River and Libby Creek. The vegetation is marked by distinctive aspect-controlled stands of trees, with Douglas fir predominating over much of the area, both in its historical setting, as well as where it has encroached on ponderosa pine sites. On drier sites, meadows and ponderosa pine / shrub - steppe habitats are dominant.

McClure Mountain roadless area is adjacent to Liberty roadless area; both are centerpieces for Methow Valley residents, offering summit vistas of much of the central Methow area. McClure Mountain towers above the town of Twisp, where its north face was gouged out by the collision of the Twisp and Methow glaciers. The steep slopes of McClure Mountain are broken by a festering landslide path on the east face. Developments in the area include the Alder Creek mine and a forest of radio and television antennae atop McClure Mountain, access of which is controlled along a small road going part way up from Twisp. The vegetation is predominated by Douglas fir.

Roadless Area Map of this area (data from Pacific Biodiversity Institute).