Huckleberry Mountain Lookout

Dogs Leashed

Features Historical Significance · Views · Wildflowers

The Huckleberry Mountain Lookout Trail near Flagg Ranch is a moderately challenging 10-mile round-trip hike with approximately 3,000 feet of elevation gain. The trail winds through an exposed and recovering burn zone from the 1988 Yellowstone fires, offering a glimpse into forest regeneration. The summit offers a breathtaking 360-degree views of the Teton Range, Jackson Lake, and parts of Yellowstone National Park. The historic 1938 fire tower, perched atop the summit at 9,615 feet, is a well-preserved relic of early fire detection efforts and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Heading north from Jackson, the Sheffield Road veers right off the main road just before Flagg Ranch. Follow the road past the campground to the parking area.

The Huckleberry Mountain Lookout Trail begins with a steady incline through open terrain, and then ramps up the grade as it climbs up a ridgeline. The first 1.5 miles offer expansive views of the Snake River Valley before the trail enters the eerie remnants of a burned forest.

Midway through, the trail dips into a small valley with seasonal creek crossings, where hikers may have to navigate logs or shallow fords. As the climb resumes, the imposing Huckleberry Mountain dominates the skyline. The ascent steepens as the path wraps around the northeastern flank, up a series of steep switchbacks.

At the summit, the fire lookout stands as a rare piece of preserved wilderness history. Built in 1938 and retired from service in 1957, the two-story wooden structure remains in surprisingly good condition. Inside, remnants of fire triangulation equipment hint at its former use, and visitors can camp around the building, though respect for this historic site is important to its preservation. On a clear day, the views extend across Jackson Lake, the entirety of the Teton Range, and well into the southern reaches of Yellowstone.

The Huckleberry Mountain Fire Lookout was built in 1938 by the U.S. Forest Service as part of an early fire detection network across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Positioned at 9,615 feet, the two-story wooden structure was used to spot wildfires across the Teton Wilderness, Jackson Lake, and southern Yellowstone National Park. It remained active until 1957, after which advances in aerial fire surveillance rendered many lookout stations obsolete.

In the 1980s, the Forest Service began removing fire lookouts from the region, but Huckleberry was preserved thanks to a successful National Register of Historic Places nomination.