Heavens Gate Lookout

Heavens Gate Lookout is a staffed fire observation tower standing at 8,429 feet above Hells Canyon, offering views across Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and the Bitterroot Mountains in Montana. From the top, visitors can see an expansive landscape of forested ridges and mountain ranges spanning multiple states.

The tower was built as part of a regional fire protection network monitoring the extensive forests of the Pacific Northwest. The system of lookout stations developed over decades to improve wildfire response in this remote mountainous region.

Visitors can identify mountain peaks and sign a logbook to document their visit to this working fire station. The lookout serves as a place where people record their connection to the surrounding landscape.

The lookout is staffed from June through the end of fire season and welcomes visitors during these months. Check conditions before arriving, as road access can vary depending on weather and seasonal trail conditions.

After a 2008 wildfire, the surrounding landscape transformed into a seasonal display of lupine, paintbrush, and avalanche lilies among charred pine trees. This flowering show reveals how quickly nature returns after such events and offers an unexpected contrast to the typically forested terrain.

Location: Idaho County

GPS coordinates: 45.36859,-116.49478

Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:09