Okanogan Highlands | Kettle River Range
Colville Indian Reservation
Location: 48.180631, -118.467088
Summit Elevation: 4,686′
Lookout Type: 100′ steel tower
Site Established: 1914
Current Structure Built: 1986
Date Visited: 6/29/19
Gold Mountain’s 100′ steel tower is the tallest live-in tower in Washington State and still remains staffed every fire season by the Colville Indian Reservation.
Photos from 2019.
History.
Gold Mountain started as a lookout camp in 1914, then an L-4 cab was built in 1938. In 1963, a 20′ wooden tower with R-6 flat top cab was built and then the present 100′ steel tower was constructed in 1986. Gold Mountain is the tallest live-in tower in Washington state and is staffed every summer.
In 1943 it was reported by the Colville Examiner that many teachers were employed as fire lookouts across the Colville National Forest, including Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Tolleson, from Colville on Gold mountain.
Directions.
Gold can be reached from a few different directions but main access is from the north off Wilmont/Bridge Creek Road between Inchelium and Keller. When I visited in 2019 I stayed at the nearby Rainbow Beach Resort on Twin Lakes just west of Inchelium, which is one of the few accommodations in the area. From Twin Lakes, drive west on Bridge Creek Road and turn left onto Wilmont, following the road approximately 7 miles to the summit. Road conditions were favorable when I visited but a high clearance AWD is highly recommended.
Note: To visit Colville Confederated Tribal land, non-tribal members must now purchase a recreation permit for $80/annually. Passes may be purchased online.