This working fire lookout perches atop Quartz Mountain’s 2,800-foot summit, providing sweeping views west to the Olympic Mountains and east across Puget Sound toward the Cascades. The steel tower operates during fire season with a resident lookout who monitors the surrounding forest. A rough forest road climbs through second-growth timber to the summit, where clear-cuts open up dramatic vistas of the Olympic Peninsula’s rain-soaked peaks.
The access road requires high clearance and can be muddy during Washington’s wet months. Dense fog frequently shrouds the summit during marine layer events, but clear days offer exceptional visibility. Winter snow and fallen trees often block the road from December through March.
Olympic Peninsula lookout with Sound views
Place Details
| Type | Fire Lookout |
|---|---|
| Street address | 294793 Olympic Highway, Quilcene, Washington 98376 Get directions → |
| Elevation (ft) | 2800 ft |
| Nearest town | Quilcene, Washington |
| Miles from pavement | 15.3 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD |
| Access road surface | Dirt |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Best season | April-November |
| Land manager | USFS |
| Permit required | No |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |