Sunset Mountain Lookout

Sunset Mountain Lookout 316 is a jeep trail located in the southeastern part of the Boise National Forest, an hour and a half from Boise, and less than 30 minutes from the historic mining town of Idaho City. The Boise National Forest covers a vast 2.5 million acres ranging from forest to grassland. Sunset Mountain Lookout leads to an unmanned fire lookout built in 1958 with impressive panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and ridges within the Boise National Forest. Sunset Mountain Lookout was registered in October 2011 on the National Historic Lookout Register and is at an elevation of 7,869 ft. Visitors can walk up to the 10-foot concrete base and around the catwalk to take in the views from all directions. This trail has various options for dispersed camping as pullovers or off the road. For those who enjoy combining hiking, equestrian, or hiking with off-roading, there are a few trailheads along the road with room for parking.