WillhiteWeb.com - Washington Fire Lookouts
Noble Knob Lookout
Lookout Elevation: 6,011 feet
Hiking Distance: 2 to 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet or less
Access: Gravel Road
Deep Creek Trail Winter Route
Because of the low elevation forest, you can start up this trail in winter, often with little to no snow. By the time you reach the ridgeline, you are in snowshoes deep in winters snowpack. This is an avalanche free route. Stay on the ridge and you are safe from slides.
Noble Knob access from the north
Logging roads from the Greenwater climb high nearly reaching the Wilderness Boundary near Noble Knob. Just a short hike will take you to Noble Knob and a short side spur goes to camping at George Lake. For the north access, just past the town of Greenwater, turn left on road 70. Follow for 4.5 miles to road #72. Take #72 for 4 miles to the trailhead.
South access from Corral Pass: (if repaired)
For Corral Pass, take Highway 410 30.5 miles from Enumclaw. Turn left on road #7174, follow it nearly 7 bumpy miles to Corral Pass. High clearance is best but often, regular passenger cars are parked there.
Camping at George Lake, below Noble Knob
Noble Knob from Mutton Mountain
View north from Noble Knob in winter
Mount Rainier
Knoble Knob from the south in winter
North from Noble Knob 8-15-1934
View of Noble Knob Lookout building from Mutton Mountain on 8-15-1934
Southeast from Noble Knob 8-15-1934
Southwest from Noble Knob 8-15-1934
The L-4 cab was likely built in 1932 or 1933. A storage shed was ordered in 1933 (see document below). In 1934 panoramic images were taken from the roof. The lookout was last used in 1954. Surveyors found it abandoned in 1955 and destroyed in 1961.
Improvements ordered on July 6, 1933
From the south, Noble Knob Lookout in the distance
Getting close to the cab
These are images taken from old Mountaineers group hikes in the 1950s
Sitting against the cab