How to Get by Car to the Lookout at the Summit of Mount Leecher in Washington?
Mount Leecher is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,531m (5,022 ft) above sea level, located in Okanogan County, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Where is Mount Leecher?
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 Chelan Sawtooth Mountains and of the surrounding areas.
What's at the Summit of Mount Leecher?
The summit hosts a fire lookout tower. The current lookout structure was originally built in 1939 on Chiliwist Butte and later relocated to Mount Leecher in 1954. While some lookout structures are open to the public and often serve as bivouac shelters, the one on Mount Leecher is locked. Visitors can only reach the stairway below the balcony. The lock may be due to the structure still being in use during the summer, and because $65,000 was spent on renovations in 2009. What many people don’t realize is that Mount Leecher actually hosts two lookout structures. The second, nearly 100-year-old “crow’s nest,” has fallen into disrepair. These crow’s nests predated man-made towers and used trees to gain a better view. About 1,000 feet southeast of the lookout tower, on the ridge crest, stands a large old pine tree. If you look closely, you can just make out the remains of the lookout platform nestled high in the tree, with a rotten ladder reaching to its base. This original lookout was built in 1918. While modest in appearance, this type of tree-based lookout is extremely rare, making it a worthwhile side trip for enthusiasts.
How Long Is the Road to Mount Leecher?
The road to the summit is totally unpaved. The road is sandy and rough in places, so high clearance or 4×4 is strongly recommended. The last mile of the road is not suitable for low-clearance vehicles. Starting from NF-4150, the road is 7.9km (4.90 miles) long.
Pic: Rich N