Black Mountain Lookout
October 2026
About
Overview
Black Mountain Lookout is located on the eastern edge of the Beckwourth Ranger District, 10 miles from Highway 395, near Milford, California.
The lookout was constructed in 1934 and is a great example of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) architecture. The C-3-type lookout is situated on a single story 10 foot tower and is extremely well-preserved.
The lookout tower is normally available for Memorial Day weekend through October, offering guests a unique lodging experience in Plumas National Forest.
Recreation
Hiking, birding, stargazing and wildlife viewing are popular among guests of the lookout. On a clear night, visitors can gaze upon the expansive sky as it unfolds with a dazzling display of stars.
Facilities
The one-room lookout cabin is set on a tower, rising 10 feet above the ground. It is furnished with two single beds with mattresses, but can accommodate up to four people. There is also space for tent camping adjacent to the lookout, for up to four visitors.
The cabin has a small table and chairs, a refrigerator, a small stove, heater, and lights, all powered with electricity. A picnic table and vault toilet are also on site.
Although the lookout provides a few amenities, guests must bring several of their own, including food, cooking utensils, sleeping bags, towels, dish soap and garbage bags.
No water is available at this facility, so guests must bring their own water for drinking, cooking and washing. Packing an additional light source is also recommended.
Natural Features
The Plumas National Forest is defined by its unique land features and pleasant climate. Outdoor enthusiasts are attracted to the many streams and lakes, beautiful deep canyons, rich mountain valleys, meadows and lofty peaks.
Guests at Black Mountain Lookout are treated to striking views of Honey Lake to the north, and Last Chance Creek to the south.
Diverse vegetation provides a habitat for wildlife including deer, coyotes, bald eagles and osprey.
Frenchman Lake is within a 30-minute drive from the lookout. This lake is popular for swimming, water skiing, fishing and camping.
Charges & Cancellations
reservations may only be modified or cancelled up to three days in advance of arrival date.
Amenities
Phone: (530) 836-2575
Is BLACK MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT fully booked?
A campground showing no availability is almost never full for good. People cancel — plans change, weather turns, someone books three weekends and keeps one — and the site goes straight back into the booking system, usually without warning and often at odd hours. The reason sold-out campgrounds feel impossible is not that sites never free up; it is that nobody is watching at the moment they do.
CampHawk watches BLACK MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT in Blairsden, CA for you. We recheck it every 15 seconds, around the clock, and the moment a site opens we send a text, an email and a push notification — and on Recreation.gov we can put the site straight into your cart, so it is held while you get to your phone.
Searching is free and needs no account — the calendar above is live right now. Watching BLACK MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT for cancellations is the paid part.