Hornet Lookout

Glacier NP

Hornet Lookout

Glacier NP

About this campsite

Overview

Hornet Lookout provides guests with astounding 360-degree views of the surrounding terrain, including Glacier National Park and Kintla Lake on clear days. On some nights, the Northern Lights may be seen from the lookout. Visitors also enjoy access to a variety of recreational activities.

Access to the lookout requires a one-mile hike from the trailhead at the parking area. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Hiking and mountain biking on the gravel roads and trails are among the activities available in the area. Viewing wildlife is another rewarding pastime.

Facilities

The two-story lookout sits at ground level. The ground level provides a living space for two guests and the second story is a small loft used solely for full views of the region. The lookout's rustic accommodations include a propane cook stove, propane lantern, two cots, a small wood stove for heat. A pit toilet is provided outside the lookout. Pets are allowed, but cleaning up after them is required.

No water is available. Guests should pack their own bedding, water, first aid kit and food, among other necessities. Click here for more cabin details.

Natural Features

The scenic lookout is perched atop Hornet Peak, at an elevation of 6,744 feet. Nearby peaks include Wedge Mountain and Akinkoka Peak. The rustic lookout was built in 1922 and, in its prime, played an integral role for detecting forest fires in the North Fork area. A 2003 wildfire charred the surrounding area, but wildflowers and bear grass are making a comeback.

Glacier View Ranger District is bordered on the east by the North Fork of the Flathead River and Glacier National Park. To the north is Canada and west is the Montana's Kootenai National Forest.

Nearby Attractions

Glacier National Park and the Wild and Scenic North Fork of the Flathead River are nearby.

Location

HORNET LOOKOUT•MT

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

WED🌦️

8° / 2°

💧 20%

TODAY☁️

7° / 1°

💧 8%

FRI☁️

13° / 4°

💧 2%

SAT☁️

14° / 0°

—

SUN☁️

17° / 1°

—

Common questions about HORNET LOOKOUT

Can you book HORNET LOOKOUT online?

We hold no online booking link for HORNET LOOKOUT, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season. If a managing authority takes bookings by phone, their number is the fastest way to confirm a site.

Where is HORNET LOOKOUT?

HORNET LOOKOUT sits in MT. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

6.7 km away

NINKO CABIN

Overview Ninko Cabin is located 45 miles north of Columbia Falls, in northwestern Montana. It is an ideal rental for winter sports enthusiasts. Open only during cold months, the cabin provides a rustic, cozy setting with a good chance for pristine snow-capped scenery. It also provides access to a variety of recreational activities. The cabin can be accessed via a 12-mile hike, snowshoe, ski or snowmobile trek from North Fork Road. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. Reaching the cabin on the 12-mile journey is part of the snow-sport fun to be had when visiting the cabin. Facilities The rustic cabin sleeps six with two bunk beds and two single beds. Amenities include a propane cook stove, lights, wood stove for heating, and a vault toilet. Pets are allowed, but cleaning up after them is required. No water is available. Renters should pack their own bedding, drinking water, food, matches and all basic camp gear. Click here for more cabin details. Guests will need to clean the cabin, carry out all trash and replenish cut firewood supply prior to departure. Natural Features The cabin sits in a mountain valley, near Whale Creek, at an approximate elevation of 4,600 feet. Surrounding peaks include Hornet Mountain and Mount Thompson-Seton. The Glacier View Ranger District is bordered on the east by the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and Glacier National Park. To the north is Canada and west is the Kootenai National Forest. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area.

8.8 km away

WURTZ CABIN

Overview Wurtz Cabin is located just south of the Canadian border, on the North Fork Road near the North Fork of the Flathead River. It is listed on the National Historic Register, offering guests a glimpse into the past. It provides access to a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, boating, fishing and viewing wildlife. The cabin can accommodate up to 12 people and is fully accessible. It can be accessed by vehicle, however the North Fork Road is gravel and only intermittently plowed in the winter. Four-wheel drive and chains are recommended for passage during winter months. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. The majority of the road from Columbia Falls to Wurtz Cabin is gravel, so be prepared for dust during your drive and at the cabin. Recreation In addition to wildlife viewing, visitors can enjoy canoeing, kayaking and fishing in the nearby river. Visitors also enjoy exploring the surrounding terrain on various hikes through the area. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are available in the winter. Glacier National Park is nearby, offering scenic driving and opportunities for hiking. It can be accessed at Polebridge, south of the cabin. Facilities The two-story, rustic log cabin has a covered front porch and flat, grassy lawn. Amenities include a propane cook stove, propane lights, a propane heate, a wood stove and an outdoor vault toilet. Two double beds and eight single beds are provided. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, as well as basic cooking and eating utensils. No water or electricity is available. Guests will need to bring water, food, bedding, flashlights, garbage bags and any other necessities. Click here for more cabin details. Natural Features The cabin was originally built by Frank and Ella Wurtz, who first settled the land in 1913 and expanded their home as their family grew in number. The family lived on-site through the 1960s and volunteers helped the Forest Service restore the building to its current structure. The rear of the cabin is lined with a stand of dense conifers. The front of the cabin faces a grassy lawn that overlooks a line of pine trees with the snow-capped Livingston Range in Glacier National Park visible in the distance. Nearby Attractions Polebridge Mercantile is located south of Wurtz and has limited supplies.

9.9 km away

FORD CABIN

Overview Ford Cabin offers a cozy, rustic getaway along the appropriately named Wild and Scenic North Fork of the Flathead River. It is about 45 miles north of Columbia Falls, in northwestern Montana. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, viewing wildlife and exploring the area's many trails. The cabin is available from May 22 to March 31. It can be access by vehicle, however four-wheel drive and chains are recommended during the winter. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. The majority of the road from Columbia Falls to Ford Cabin is gravel, so be prepared for dust during your drive and at the cabin. Recreation Rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing is pleasant. In fact, the Flathead River is renowned for its excellent fly fishing. Visitors can hike and mountain bike on various trails and roads, or float in the river from the Canadian border to Polebridge on Class I to II rapids. Facilities The rustic log cabin has a small, covered front porch and a vault toilet nearby. It is equipped with a propane stove, lights, a heater and limited cooking and eating utensils. Furnishings include two bunk beds and one double bed, to accommodate up to six people. Water from a hand-pump system, is only available from April to November. In winter, visitors must bring their own water. Other items to bring include food, bedding, flashlights, a first aid kit and other basic camping gear. Click here for more cabin details . Natural Features The cabin is perched on a grassy field beside a stand of pine trees and near the North Fork of the Flathead River and Tepee Creek. The surrounding Glacier View Ranger District is bordered on the east by the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and Glacier National Park. To the north is Canada and west is the Kootenai National Forest. A variety of wildlife live in the area, including elk, moose and bears. Nearby Attractions Polebridge Mercantile offers limited supplies, and is about a half-hour's drive from the cabin.

10.9 km away

Round Prairie

Campground: Round Prairie.

12.6 km away

SCHNAUS CABIN

Overview Schnaus Cabin is located near the Wild and Scenic North Fork of the Flathead River, in the Flathead National Forest. It can host up to 12 guests for a scenic, peaceful mountain vacation. The rustic dwelling provides a superb setting for fishing, hiking, bird watching and much more in the Whitefish Mountains. The fully accessible cabin can be reached via vehicle and a parking area is located outside the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. The majority of the road from Columbia Falls to Schnaus Cabin is gravel, so be prepared for dust during your drive and at the cabin. Recreation Summertime activities include hiking, rafting and fishing. In winter, visitors enjoy cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Bird and wildlife watching are also pleasing pastimes, and guests may see elk, moose or bears in the area. Facilities The cabin is equipped with a propane cook stove, heater, lights, a wood stove and accessible vault toilet. Furnishings include two double beds and a bunk bed on the main floor, plus twin beds located in the loft. No drinking water or electricity is available. Guests should bring plenty of water, bedding, food, flashlights and basic camping gear, among other necessities. Click here for more cabin details. Natural Features The cabin sits near a creek and some ponds, a short hike from the North Fork Flathead River. It is surrounded by scattered pine trees and lies within a meadow at an approximate elevation of 3,700 feet, in the Whitefish Range of the Rocky Mountains. The Glacier View Ranger District is bordered on the east by the North Fork of the Flathead River and Glacier National Park. To the north is Canada and west is the Kootenai National Forest. Nearby Attractions Polebridge Mercantile is located seven miles south of Schnaus, offering limited supplies.