Three Fingers Lookout

Three Fingers Lookout is a wooden observation tower built on the peak of Three Fingers Mountain within Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The structure sits bolted directly onto the rock summit, creating a lookout point with sweeping views of the surrounding forest landscape.

The lookout was constructed between 1930 and 1932 by Harold Engles and Fred Benesh as part of early forest protection efforts. Building the station required significant rock removal to create a stable foundation at the mountain summit.

The National Register of Historic Places recognized this lookout in 1987 for its architectural design and representation of early forest protection methods.

Reaching the tower requires mountaineering skills and equipment, as the route involves steep terrain and significant elevation gain. Access is only possible on foot, and conditions become hazardous during bad weather or early in the climbing season.

Construction crews relied on pack animals and a tram system to haul heavy materials up the mountainside. This ingenious solution demonstrates the practical challenges of building remote structures in high altitude terrain.

Location: Snohomish County

GPS coordinates: 48.16990,-121.68784

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:07