Kalispell Rock

Once home to a fire lookout, the granite slabs that make up Kalispell Rock overlook the Priest River drainage.

Once past the gate at the trailhead, make your way up Kalispell Rock Trail, the first of several old logging roads that make up this route.

At a half mile, reach a junction with another former logging road. Bear left and continue upward. In another mile, the road/trail crosses over to the north side of the ridge. Veer left onto another road. The trail here climbs steeply to the ridge.

At 2.3 miles, the grade eases and the trail descends to a grassy meadow and reaches another junction. Make a sharp right-hand turn, heading north on true trail now. After briefly climbing for 0.2 miles, the trail drops and reaches an opening. Straight ahead the trail peters out. Instead, look for where the main trail makes a hairpin turn to the right.

It’s easy going for the next 0.3 miles. When you reach a decaying log cabin, you’re at your destination. The cabin was built in 1927 to provide shelter for the fire lookout on duty. The firefinding shelter on Kalispell rock has been removed and the cabin has been left to nature since 1935.

Just above the cabin site, rising granite slabs mark the peak of Kalispell Rock. The tallest rocks are unsafe to climb, but there are others lower down that make an ideal break spot. After taking in the views, retrace your steps to the trailhead, paying careful attention at junctions along the way.