Suntop Lookout

Suntop Lookout is a wooden observation tower standing at 5,271 feet within Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The structure measures fourteen by fourteen feet with windows on all sides, allowing watchers to see the surrounding landscape completely.

The tower was built in 1933 and served as part of the U.S. Army aircraft warning system during World War II. It received National Register listing in 1987 to preserve its role in forest management history.

The lookout represents how people once used high places to protect forests by spotting fires early. Its simple structure shows the daily routine of watchers who lived here, keeping watch over the land.

The lookout is reached via a marked hiking trail and offers broad views of the surrounding mountains during warmer months. Visitors should prepare for changing weather conditions at higher elevation, particularly in early morning and evening.

The tower is one of only two remaining structures of this type from the former Snoqualmie National Forest still standing. Its original L-4 design with the distinctive shape makes it a rare example of early observation tower engineering.

Location: Pierce County

Inception: 1933

Website: https://fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbs/recarea/?recid=18096

GPS coordinates: 47.04099,-121.59646

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:10