Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area: summer hiking

What the ski area offers in summer

In summer, Lookout Pass offers scenic chairlift rides: you ride up, then ride back down or hike down. The lift is the Peak 1 Quad, an American-made SkyTrac quad chairlift on the front side of the mountain. It reaches a 5,650 ft (about 1,722 m) summit. The ski area notes that this is not its highest peak, but the top of the front-side chairlift.

From the top, you see the Bitterroot Mountains, in particular the St. Regis peaks and basin. On the ride back down, you look north toward the Murry Gold Fields.

Hiking

The ski area says it has developed five trails through the woods, suited to families. The hike down follows its network of wooded trails and work roads; for most guests it takes about 40 minutes to an hour. You can also simply walk around the summit, then take the chairlift back down. The lift also carries guests up for a lunch at the top.

Huckleberries

At the summit, the ski area invites guests to pick huckleberries in season. Picking is by hand only: rakes are not allowed because they damage the bushes. Huckleberry shakes are sold in the ski area's food court.

Hours, dates and pricing

The ski area's summer page announced the chairlift running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (PST). For summer 2026, it said dates and times would be set closer to the season, pointed to ridethehiawatha.com/events and left pricing to be determined. It also announced that holders of a 2026-27 winter season pass would get a free scenic chairlift ride ticket, when the lift was running, by showing their pass at the Season Pass office.

Getting there and parking

From Spokane or Missoula, plan on about 90 minutes on I-90 to Exit 0, at the Idaho-Montana border. The ski area's parking lot is 200 yards (about 180 m) past the off-ramp. Wallace is 12 miles away and Coeur d'Alene 56 miles.

Good to know

• Walking uphill: the ski area does not allow uphill human travel anywhere within its permit area unless it says otherwise. To get up, its summer page offers the scenic chairlift.
• Accessibility: the summit ramp is not ADA compliant in summer: it is steep, with soft dirt and no steps or handrails. Anyone who needs help should ask the bottom lift attendant before boarding.