Greenstone Mountain is one of the more popular abandoned fire lookouts for its proximity to Kamloops and ease of access. It is possible for an experienced 4×4 driver to get right to it in the summer and straight-forward access by snowmobile in winter.
There are other routes more favourable to hikers and at some points in the year, it is the only method to reach the summit.
The lookout is maintained by several of the local offroad communities and therefore makes for a solid shelter from the inevitable wind and elements. There is a quality wood stove inside making an overnight stay possible (even in the winter).
Being an old fire lookout vantage, it of course has 360 views where it is possible to see the Kamloops, Coastal Range, Thompson + Nicola valleys, north to Wells Gray + Sunpeaks and over the Okanagan.
A fire lookout was first established on this spot in 1916. The structure was replaced in the mid-1950s with the familiar looking hip-roof style cabin and this stands to this day as a gem of BC history. The summit is getting crowded with communications towers of all shapes and sizes but the lookout remains isolated on the actual summit.
Access
There are 3 main routes up to Greenstone. The most reliable and standard route is to turn off HWY 97 at cherry creek. Fork right soon afterward towards Duffy Lake. At the turnoff to Duffly Lake there is a sign indicating the direction as the route heads south to join up with Dominic Lake FSR.
A second route is to bend left at the fork mentioned above to continue on Greenstone Mountain Road the whole way. This route is less reliable and more challenging.
A third route starts closer to Merritt and accesses from the south. Take the 97D highway off HWY 5 towards Logan Lake. Turn north onto Paska Lake road. Just before the Mile High Resort, turn north onto Dominic Lake Rd (which ends up merging with the first option described above).
See map below for more details
