Okanogan Highlands | South Okanogan Highlands
Colville Indian Reservation
Location: 48.371795, -119.061243
Summit Elevation: 6,774′
Lookout Type: 123′ Aermotor steel tower
Site Established: 1914
Current Structure Built: 1938
Date Visited: 11/19/18
The 123′ Aermotor steel tower at Moses Mountain is the tallest lookout tower in the Pacific Northwest and the road to Moses Mountain is amongst the 10 highest mountain roads in the State.
Photos from 2018.
History.
Moses Mountain was established as a lookout in 1914 with a crows nest tree platform and cabin. In 1923, a 30′ pole tower and cab replaced the tree, then a 35′ steel tower was constructed in 1930. The current 123′ Aermotor steel tower was built in 1938 and is the tallest lookout tower in the Pacific Northwest. Aermotor steel towers were built by the Aermotor Company of Chicago, IL, founded in 1888. In the 1920s, a few steel towers started showing up in the Pacific Northwest and in the 1930s, several more were built predominantly east of the Cascades.
Moses was abandoned in the mid-1980s and evidence suggests that the 1930 tower was moved to Grizzly Mountain in 1941.
Directions.
From Omak, drive State Route 155 east to BIA-56. Follow BIA-56 5.3 miles, then turn left onto BIA-61, continuing 4 miles to the summit. Road conditions can vary so a high-clearance AWD vehicle is recommended, though during my visit in 2018 the roads were in good shape.
Note: To visit Colville Confederated Tribal land, non-tribal members must now purchase a recreation permit for $80/annually. Passes may be purchased online.