One of the most popular destinations in the Bighorn National Forest in northern Wyoming is a 3.4-mile trail that takes visitors to one of the highest spots for spectacular panoramic views of the Bighorn Range.
But the best view is boarded up, and has been for decades.
The historic Black Mountain Fire Lookout is still standing after 84 years at an elevation of 9,400 feet. The structure has seen better days, but with enough investment, its future could look better than ever.
“It's a historic building and a really popular site,” said Sarah Evans Kirol, a spokesperson for Bighorn National Forest. “It’s temporarily closed, but we’re trying to get some repairs done so everyone can get the great panoramic view of the northern part of Bighorn National Forest.”
The Best And Only Vantage
Wyoming photographer and eighth grade English teacher Tim Doolin makes at least one trek to the Black Mountain Fire Lookout every summer. For him, it’s a reward that’s always worth the effort.
“I like to move,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “I don't hold still very well, so that gives me a chance to put my pack on and make that mild grind. And then there's a reward with photos and video at the end of the trail.”
During his latest trip in July, Doolan used his drone to capture the historic lookout at sunset. He got stunning images of one of his favorite spots in northern Wyoming. But he couldn’t go into the boarded-up lookout post.
“The perspective that the Black Mountain Lookout provides is quite unique and not something that you can experience anywhere else because there are no other vantages,” he said. “Black Mountain Lookout is the highest point around, so I wanted to fly close to sunset. I was hoping for some cool light, and it all came together for me.”
Still Standing
The Black Mountain Lookout was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939. It was the primary lookout for fire detection in the Northern Bighorns, although it hasn’t served that purpose for quite a while.
“I don't know when we stopped using it as an active fire lookout, but it was quite a while ago,” Kirol said. “We used it as a communication site in the early 2000s. There was a tower up there for radio communications, and the lookout housed some of that equipment.”
Although the Black Mountain Lookout has been boarded up for the last few decades, the wooden deck surrounding the structure was still accessible. Hikers could ascend to the structure and enjoy one of the best views of the Bighorns.
“It provides views all the way into Montana and far into the Cloud Peak Wilderness,” Doolin said. “The whole range of the Bighorn Mountains is quite visible from that location. There have been quite a number of lightning strikes over the years, and it’s my understanding that they’ve recorded wind gusts in excess of 100 mph up there.”
Despite the decades and the elements, the Black Mountain Lookout still stands strong. But strong isn’t the same as safe, which is why nobody will be looking out from the lookout for a while.
About a month before it was close, Wyoming photographer Tim Doolan hiked to the deck of the Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. He captured stunning drone video and photos of the panoramic view. The lookout itself, however, has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Tim Doolan Photography) 
About a month before it was close, Wyoming photographer Tim Doolan hiked to the deck of the Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. He captured stunning drone video and photos of the panoramic view. The lookout itself, however, has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Tim Doolan Photography) 
About a month before it was close, Wyoming photographer Tim Doolan hiked to the deck of the Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. He captured stunning drone video and photos of the panoramic view. The lookout itself, however, has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Tim Doolan Photography) 
About a month before it was close, Wyoming photographer Tim Doolan hiked to the deck of the Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. He captured stunning drone video and photos of the panoramic view. The lookout itself, however, has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Tim Doolan Photography) 
About a month before it was close, Wyoming photographer Tim Doolan hiked to the deck of the Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. He captured stunning drone video and photos of the panoramic view. The lookout itself, however, has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Tim Doolan Photography) 
About a month before it was close, Wyoming photographer Tim Doolan hiked to the deck of the Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. He captured stunning drone video and photos of the panoramic view. The lookout itself, however, has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Tim Doolan Photography) 
About a month before it was close, Wyoming photographer Tim Doolan hiked to the deck of the Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. He captured stunning drone video and photos of the panoramic view. The lookout itself, however, has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Tim Doolan Photography) 
Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. The lookout itself has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Karl Brauneis) 
Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. The lookout itself has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Karl Brauneis) 
Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. The lookout itself has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Karl Brauneis) 
Black Mountain Lookout, at 9,400 feet elevation one of the highest points in the Bighorn Range. The lookout itself has been shuttered for decades, and now the deck also is closed for repairs. (Courtesy Karl Brauneis)
Decked Out
Only about a month after Doolan got his spectacular drone video and photos, the site itself was closed to the public.
In August, Bighorn National Forest temporarily closed the Black Mountain Lookout, preventing access to the deck. Kirol said the closure was because of the degraded state of the deck.
“The deck around the building is in disrepair, and it's not suitable for people to walk on,” she said. “We've closed that portion of the site so people don't walk out there and get hurt, and hopefully, we will get some work done on it and do some repairs.”
There have been several restoration efforts for the Black Mountain Lookout. The most recent was in 2014, which put new shingles on the roof and did a lot of stonework on the structure’s foundation, which was built onto the top of Black Mountain.
Repairing the lookout’s deck is a priority for Bighorn National Forest, but Kirol isn’t sure when it will be accomplished.
“We don't have a timeline because we don't have a source to do the work needed right now,” she said. “We're looking for external partners that might want to volunteer or do some work and help us get that done.”
Doolin hopes the work will be accomplished sooner than later. There’s no substitute for the experience offered by the historic structure.
“I'm actually kind of glad they have closed it,” he said. “The deck was missing planks, and the gaps between the planks kept getting wider. They needed to close it, but I would like to see them rehabilitate the deck so that you can walk all the way around it and do so safely.”
Rustic Rentals
Even with a repaired deck, there’s still the question of what the future will be for the Black Mountain Fire Lookout. It all comes down to money.
In addition to the usual wear-and-tear on an 84-year-old structure at the top of a 9,400-foot mountain, some people haven’t left well enough alone. Kirol said that people broke into the basement of the lookout and attempted to break into the lookout itself, causing additional damage that will also need to be repaired.
The latest trend for historic structures in national forests is converting them into rustic rentals. Bighorn National Forest has already done this with several structures, including Sheep Mountain Lookout and Muddy Guard Cabin.
Kirol said that Black Mountain Lookout has been considered as a potential recreation rental, but there are no immediate plans to make it happen. That would require more investment than a deck repair.
“There are certain standards we need to meet, and we haven't been able to meet those for Black Mountain Lookout,” she said. “A new toilet has to be installed before we can even put it on a list, and that’s in addition to all the repairs that need to be done.”
Discussions on what could be done with the Black Mountain Lookout are ongoing. In the meantime, Kirol said the priority is ensuring the historic structure stays standing and somewhat accessible.
“Stabilizing and restoring is what we're doing now,” she said. “Our big thing right now is trying to get some of those repairs done, and then maybe if we can get some of the bigger ticket items, like a new toilet, making it a recreation rental is something that may happen in the future.”
The Carrot
Doolin knows several schools in Sheridan take field trips out on the Black Mountain Lookout Trail because it’s a relatively easy 3.4-mile loop and offers great views of the northern Bighorns. But the lookout was always “the carrot.”
“Kids want the carrot at the end of the outing,” he said. “If you can't stand on that deck and have that unfettered view of the entire Bighorn Range, it's not quite as satisfying.”
Doolin is hopeful the repairs will be finished soon, and the Black Mountain Lookout’s deck will be accessible once again. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience in Bighorn National Forest.
“I'd like to see them repair that deck because it is a destination,” he said. “Black Mountain Lookout is the highest point around and its perspective is quite unique. There are no other vantages at that location. I’d like to get that unfettered view back but do it safely.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
