Big Baldy Fire Lookout - Hiking near Cascade, Idaho
Cascade,Idaho
44.78243700827, -115.21883199798
44.5 miles NE of Cascade, Idaho
GPS: 44°46'56.8"N 115°13'7.8"W
Maps | Directions
State: Idaho

Hike

This is truly a very remote mountain in the heart of a huge wilderness that is located in the state of Idaho. Home to an old lookout structure (still standing), it provides a destination to look forward to and yet, it is as demanding a hike as any that the author of this page has ever been on. Located in an area that has suffered extensive fire damage over recent years, it requires that you pay attention to your water needs and the hundreds of downed timber that you have to step over or work around. Located in the largest wilderness area in the lower 48, the Frank Church River of No Return area, Big Baldy is about as isolated as you can find.

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Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

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  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From I-84, take Idaho highway 55 north to the town of Cascade, a great place to get gas and supplies before heading east on highway 22 to Warm Lake, 26 miles away. This is a nice paved highway and Warm Lake provides several campgrounds to choose from along with a small lodge and store. Head east about ten miles towards Landmark and the pavement will end leaving you with just under 17 miles of forest service road to get to the trailhead. 

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