How to Get by Car to the Lookout at the Summit of Buck Mountain in Washington?
Buck Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,868m (6,128ft) above sea level, located in Okanogan County, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Where is Buck Mountain?
The peak is located in the north-central part of Washington, at the Okanogan Range of the North Cascades. Once at the top, there is a great view of the valleys below and of the surrounding areas.
Why is Buck Mountain Famous?
The mountain is most notable for having a fire lookout tower still standing on its summit. Buck Mountain Lookout was first established in 1919 as a simple crow’s nest with a nearby log cabin for workers. In 1934, these were replaced by a 20-foot pole L-4 tower, which in 1961 gave way to the current 14′ x 14′ flat-gable cab with catwalk atop a 20-foot timber tower, built by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The lookout, one of nine constructed by the department’s carpentry crew over two years, cost about $8,000 each. Still maintained by the DNR for emergency use, it occasionally operates after lightning storms and was added to the National Historic Lookout Register on November 20, 1999. There is a small dirt parking area near the summit.
Is the Road to Buck Mountain Unpaved?
The road to the summit is completely unpaved and is called Buck Lookout Road. It’s possible to drive all the way to Buck’s summit, but the route becomes very rocky and rough about two miles below. A high-clearance vehicle is needed, and a high-clearance 4x4 is recommended for the rougher sections.
How Long Is the Road to Buck Mountain?
Starting from the paved Highway 20, the road to the summit is 9.01km (5.6 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 807m (2,648 ft) and the average gradient is 8.95%.