Clare O’Connell

Saint Mary Lookout Volunteer Liaison

Bitterroot National Forest

Saint Mary Lookout sits atop St. Mary Peak at 9,350 feet. It’s located in the heart of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area and is a popular hiking destination.

Nine years ago, SBFC and the US Forest Service launched an experiment of partnering – to staff St. Mary Lookout with volunteer hosts/lookouts. Uncertain about the level of interest this opportunity might generate, a volunteer job posting was placed in the Missoulian and, to their surprise, it generated over 70 applications.

Each summer since then, St. Mary Lookout has been staffed by SBFC volunteers from mid-July to mid-September. Our role involves visitor education, smoke detection and maintenance projects. Visitors have the opportunity to see how a lookout operates. During the 2020 season 1,777 visitors hiked to St. Mary during the 8-week season.

The Stevensville District office of the Forest Service provides pack support to get water, wood, and gear to the lookout.

*Steve Brown, District Ranger in Stevensville, leading the pack string*

Over the past 9 years St. Mary Peak has been the spot for marriage proposals, weddings, anniversaries, church services and big weather!

*A September morning after some big weather!*

This project is just one example of SBFC’s mission to “bring citizens and youth to wilderness to work, live and play”.