A mug of hot cocoa, the warmth of a wood-burning stove, a 360 degree view of treetops and starlight. Could this AirBnB get any cozier?
Northern Idaho is packed full of rugged, untouched wilderness and there’s no better way to experience it than high above the treetops in the world’s coziest fire lookout AirBnB: Crystal Peak.
This beautiful forest getaway has been on my radar for a couple years now and when our Bali vacation got COVID’d out of existence I was like “social distancing in the forest? Yaaas, please”.
This is the 3rd of Kristie’s 4 Airbnb’s that I’ve had the pleasure of visiting and, as always, every detail was perfect. From the wood-burning stove, to the cozy wool blankets, to the hot cocoa + marshmallows: every thoughtful addition just screams “cozy cabin vibes”. (Little known fact: I actually hate the word “vibes”, especially when it’s used as a single-worded sentence.)
But you didn’t come here to learn boring, irrelevant facts about the author. So let’s get back on track, shall we?
In this post we’re going to discuss the following things:
– Things to Know Before You Book Your Stay
– Location + Tips for Getting There
– Best Time to Visit the Fire Lookout
– What’s Provided + What You Need to Bring
– Things to Do in the Area
– Getting Your Gear Up
– The Bathroom / Outhouse
– Tips for Bringing Your Dog
– How to Book Your Stay
The fact that Crystal Peak is more “glamping” style than your typical AirBnB paired with the fact that it’s very much off-grid and off the beaten path is way more of a blessing than a curse, but it does mean more preparation and knowledge of the area is required. So let’s start off with the “crucial” information. The things you absolutely NEED to know before booking your stay.
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Things to Know Before You Book the Crystal Peak Lookout
1. 4WD + High Clearance are a REQUIREMENT (Unless You’re Planning on Hiking to the Lookout)
Kristie does a great job disclosing this for potential visitors, but if you’re anything like me you just assume you can handle things better than the average person (even though you usually can’t) and don’t pay much attention to warnings. Well, please pay attention to this one! The driveway up to the lookout is about 1/4 mile long and is very steep (like, sketchy steep) and very rough. When I say rough, I mean giant rocks and deep holes throughout that make bottoming out your car an inevitability – unless you have a vehicle with high clearance. You can also park at the bottom of the drive and hike up, but it’s quite a hike if you’re carrying a bunch of stuff up with you!
2. This Idaho Fire Lookout is VERY remote + isolated
You will be checking yourself in so any questions/requests you have for the host should be asked for ahead of time. Don’t count on cell service (every once in a while I got a couple bars up in the lookout, but it’s not reliable) and make sure you have everything you need for your stay. Which brings me to my next point..
3. You’ll Need to Pack in Food + Water
Coffee, tea and hot cocoa (as well as a few light snacks) are provided by the host, but you’ll need to make sure you have sufficient water and food for your stay! You won’t want to keep driving to Fernwood and back, trust me 🙂
4. It’s more like “glamping” than camping, but you’ll still need to prepare!
Unlike camping, things like bedding and cookware are provided, but you should still bring certain camping essentials with you (see the “What to Bring” section).
5. You’ll have to keep an eye out for wildlife
We heard a moose nearby while we were using the sauna.
6. This lookout is dog-friendly, but it’s not a walk in the park
See my “Tips for Bringing Fido” section!
Good with all that? Then you’re up to the challenge! Let’s get to the good stuff.
Ready to Book? Find the AirBnB listing, here!
Location of the Fire Lookout + Tips For Getting There
The Fire Lookout is located near Fernwood, Idaho. Kristie (your AirBnB Superhost) will send you detailed directions a few days before you leave for your trip, but generally speaking the fire lookout is about 5 miles away from the town of Fernwood, and most of those 5 miles are on a gravel road.
HOT TIP: Make sure you screenshot Kristie’s step-by-step directions before you head out! The GPS will not take you the entire way and the directions really helped us along the way.
As I mentioned before, you absolutely need a vehicle with 4WD and high clearance if you plan on driving up to the base of the lookout. The curvy, mountain road leading up to the driveway is gravel – but it’s mostly even and probably doable in a regular car. So theoretically you could just park at the base of the driveway and hike up. Just keep in mind you’ll have to carry your gear up a very steep 1/4 mile road.
If you have an appropriate vehicle and plan to drive the entire way, you should know that the driveway has one extremely sharp turn that you’ll need to maneuver AS you’re climbing a very steep grade.
Best Time of Year to Visit
This Idaho Fire Lookout is open ALL YEAR ROUND. Each season has their own charms:
SPRING: It’s lush + green
SUMMER: Blueberries are ripe for the pluckin’ and the fire lookout is completely surrounded by berry bushes! Do keep in mind though, the lookout is comprised of 360 degrees of windows and it can get super hot inside!
FALL: Fresh + Cool. It’s also a great time for wildlife viewing!
WINTER: Ultra-cozy and offers an entirely unique experience. Keep in mind, you’ll need to snowshoe up the driveway if you visit in the wintertime! You can opt to take a snowcat most of the way for an extra fee, but it cannot make it up the driveway. NOTE: The snowcat looks SUPER cozy and is decked out with cozy blankets, pillows and even spiked hot cocoa!
FOR WINTER GUESTS: You may want to check out this awesome guide from The Mandagies! They’ve got all the information you should need for an epic winter getaway 🙂
Book Your Idahoan Getaway, Here!
What’s Provided
- Firewood (There’s Plenty!) + A Lighter
- Kitchen Stuff: Camp stove, Pans, Tea Kettle, Cooking Utensils, Plates/Bowls, Silverware, Cups, Cutting board + Knives, Tin Foil, Paper Towels, Pour-over coffee maker, Disposable coffee filters, Sugar, Salt + Pepper, Olive oil
- Drinks + Snacks: Coffee, Tea, Hot Cocoa, Marshmallows, M&Ms, Granola, Nuts
- Bedding: Pillows, sheets + blankets
- Bathroom stuff: Toilet paper, Hand sanitizer
- Other Handy Stuff: Towels, Kindling Maker, Books, Dog bed, Pulley system with basket
What to Bring
ESSENTIALS
- Headlamps: Lanterns are provided, but I find headlamps easier since they’re brighter and hands-free!
- Toilet Paper: I definitely recommend bringing extra T.P., just in case!
- Warm Jacket: For those cool evenings/mornings
- Drinking Water: Some is provided, but you’ll definitely want more! Make sure to bring 1 gallon per day, per visit + some extra for cooking (and pets, if you have them!)
- Ingredients for Meals: We mostly did hobo dinners – that was the cleanest/easiest way to cook at the lookout!
OTHER STUFF
- Spices: If you want to up your flavor game!
- Swimsuit: Optional, for the sauna
- Camera: You’re going to be taking LOTS of pictures
- Card games: To enjoy with your travel buddy!
Things To Do At The Crystal Peak Fire Lookout
The lookout is very secluded (and not super easy to get to and from by car), so once you’re there you’ll likely be staying put until check-out time. Thankfully, there’s plenty to entertain you during your stay!
1. Heat up in the Sauna
This shed-turned-sauna is an epic way to enjoy those brisk mornings! Especially if you’re visiting during fall or winter. There are sauna directions provided in the lookout 🙂
2. Take a Hike
There’s a few different hiking trails nearby, so pack your hiking boots!
3. Sip some Coffee or Hot Cocoa on the Patio
The entire lookout is surrounded by a catwalk/patio so you can enjoy the gorgeous forest views from all angles!
4. Take a peek at the Library
There’s plenty of books to choose from in the cute, little lookout library.
5. Try out Ax Throwing (Carefully…)
There is an ax-throwing area next to the sauna if you’re game!
6. Speaking of “game”… Play Some Games!
Francis and I really enjoy playing card games when we’re camping/glamping. It’s something we love to do but don’t often get the chance to during our usual day-to-day.
7. Stargazing!
On particularly clear nights, the star-viewing opportunities are for real! Our first night at the lookout, the Milky Way was clearly visible from the patio.
NOTE: There’s actually a star chart provided on the book shelves if you want to identify some constellations!
8. Just chill
This is the perfect opportunity to just sit and chill out! Turn your phone on airplane mode and just bask in nature. Soak in the sun rays, listen to the birds, and breathe in the oxygen and pine-scent.
9. Netflix…?
If “chilling” isn’t your thing, I get it. That’s why I wrote this guide on How to Watch Netflix, Hulu, Prime and Disney + Off-Grid!
Don’t judge. We all have our nighttime camping rituals. Mine just involves watching creepy movies to seemingly-intentionally induce nightmares.
Ready to Book Your Cozy Forest Getaway? Click here!
Getting Your Gear Up
The Lookout sits 24 feet in the air and requires climbing two flights of stairs. Packing light is always a good option, but regardless of how light you pack you’re going to have a couple gallons (at least) of water to bring up.
But not to worry!
There’s actually a pulley/lift system attached to the patio so you can send your gear and water up in a wire basket. It’s pretty straightforward and easy to use – we mostly used it to re-stock the firewood in the lookout. It worked super well and made the “moving in” process a lot smoother.
The Bathroom Situation
We all gotta go! So let’s talk bathrooms.
The good news is, you don’t have to dig a hole to poop in. There’s an adorable little outhouse just a quick jaunt from the Lookout and it’s SUPER clean! Some things to note:
- It’s a wag-bag system: The outhouse looks like a typical outhouse, but instead of peeing into a giant pit that smells horrible, you’ll be peeing into a compostable bag. It’s not as weird as it sounds, I promise. The bag sits deep enough that you won’t be experiencing splash-back, and there’s sawdust provided to absorb liquid and minimize smell. You’ll likely only need to change out the bag once, at the end of your stay.
- It’s dimly lit: There’s a solar-powered light inside, but it’s not super bright. You might want to bring your headlamp with you.
- Hand sanitizer and Toilet Paper is provided: Though I recommend bringing some extra T.P. just in case!
Dog-Friendlyness + Tips For Bringing Fido
Just like Kristie’s Hobbit Hole AirBnB, this Idaho fire lookout is dog-friendly! Yay! But before you get too excited, let’s get into the logistics.
Some Things to Keep in Mind:
- Carrying Your Dog Upstairs: The stairs are steep and difficult for dogs to climb – plus the stairs are more like a ladder, so there’s potential for injury if your dog’s leg slips through the back of the step. We had to carry Tuna up and down which proved to be a lot more challenging than we thought! (You’re probably thinking “duh” but apparently I only learn by trail and error). I would really only recommend bringing dogs under 40lbs, depending on your upper body strength and ability to balance on narrow steps.
- Wildlife: We didn’t feel totally comfortable just letting Tuna explore the area since we knew there was a moose close by, so I think he got kinda bored and antsy on this trip. Sorry, Tunes 🙁
- Chillin’ on the Patio: The catwalk/patio is surrounded by chicken-wire, but it’s not secured super well so I didn’t let Tuna walk around without being held onto. Yes, I’m probably an over-the-top dog parent, but… I am what I am! Popeye said that, I think.
- Bumpy Roads: The way there is SUPER winding and bumpy (especially if you take the driveway all the way up). This is important to note if your dog gets anxious in the car!
Tips + What to Bring:
- Pack in Enough Water + Food: You’ll need extra water for your pup!
- Bring Collapsible Dog Bowls: Like this one!
- Pack a Hands-Free Dog Tether: I just bought the Knot-a-Hitch from Ruffwear and I absolutely love it! Super easy to set up and it’s tangle-free, unlike most dog tethers.
- Spray Your Pup with Flea/Tick Spray: You’re going to be in the deep woods, so make sure you prevent any nasty bugs from latching onto your pet! I recommend spraying your dog daily (maybe even twice a day depending how much time you’re spending outdoors). You can find flea + tick spray on Amazon, here.
How to Book Your Stay
This Idaho Fire Lookout is available to book exclusively on AirBnB and is currently $200/night. You’ll want to book as far in advance as possible. The lookout books up super fast and is especially popular in December. Click the link below to view the AirBnB listing:
Book Your Stay at the Crystal Peak Fire Lookout in Idaho, Here!
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