U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands to restrict access to top of fire lookout towers

Several historic lookout towers across the Idaho Panhandle continue to be staffed by various agencies, including the Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands.

In alignment with current federal, state and local guidance for social distancing and to ensure health safety of its employees, visitors, and volunteers, managers have decided to restrict access to the top level of the towers this summer. These restrictions are being put in place to protect the health of the public as well as our volunteers and employees who reside at the lookouts.

Towers are staffed during fire season, from early July through early September. If you are planning a visit, please be aware that the restrictions apply to the following staffed lookouts:

• Sundance Lookout

• Lookout Mountain Lookout

• Hughes Ridge Lookout

• Indian Mountain Lookout

• Gisborne Lookout

• Middle Sisters Lookout

Visitors to national forests and other public lands are urged to take the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For tips from the CDC on preventing illnesses like the coronavirus, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html.

For more information, call the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Fire Information Line at 208-557-8813 or the Idaho Department of Lands Priest Lake Office at 208-443-2516.