Sopelia Lookout

USA / Washington / Goldendale /
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Sopelia Fire Lookout, elevation 4592 feet, is located on Bickleton Ridge of the Simcoe Mountains on the southern edge of the Yakima Indian Reservation, about 2 miles east of US Rout 97. The Lookout cabin was built in 1959 and burned down in a forest fire in 2013.

Goldendale and the Columbia River about 20 south of Sopelia Lookout. In my humble opinion, I do not believe a person could actually see those places from the lookout cabin because the cabin was built a north side of the Bickleton Ridge looking north into the Yakima Reservation.

Looking north from Sopelia Lookout, a person can see a broad vista across the middle of the Yakima Reservation. I am not sure if a person can actually see 12,200 ft tall Mt Adams to the west, or Satus Peak Lookout (elevation 4182 feet) or Signal Peak Lookout (5100 ft elevation) to the north.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   45°59'39"N   120°36'5"W

Comments

  • From Sopelia Lookout, you can barely see the top of Mt Adams located about 50 miles away to the northwest.
  • FYI: Sopelia Lookout was not a tower; it was a small cabin that was elevated about 4 feet off of the ground on concrete piers. Therefore visibility to the south was somewhat limited because it built on the north side of Bickleton Ridge; not at the top of the ridge. It had excellent views to the north because the cabin was built on the edge of a north facing cliff.
  • All that remains of Sopelia Lookout are the concrete piers, the cabin burned to the ground in 2013. Notice that many of the trees south of the lookout are black from the fire and many have fallen over and are laying on the ground. The name Sopelia still remains written on the ground there. There are two communication towers located about 100 yards to the southwest of Sopelia Lookout.
  • Corrction: the burned trees are just north of Sopelia Lookout.
  • Note: Sopelia Lookout helipad is H30 Satus Lookout helipad is H28 Signal Peak Lookout helipad is a large white triangle with red border (no number visible).
  • Sopelia Lookout burned down in 2013, but you can see a photo of the cabin at http://www.panoramio.com/photo/90082072
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This article was last modified 10 years ago