Lookout Pass

{{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain pass | name = Lookout Pass | photo = | photo_caption = | elevation_ft = 4710 | elevation_ref = | traversed = {{jct|country=USA|I|90}} | map = USA#Idaho | map_caption = Location in United States##Location on Idaho–Montana border | map_size = 250 | label = | location = Shoshone County, Idaho /<br>Mineral County, Montana, U.S. | range = Coeur d'Alène Mountains,<br /> Bitterroot Range,<br />Rocky Mountains | coords = {{coord|47|27.3|N|115|41.7|W|type:pass|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = | topo = }} '''Lookout Pass''' is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of the northwestern United States. In the Coeur d'Alene Mountains of the Bitterroot Range, the pass is on the border between Idaho and Montana, traversed by Interstate 90 (formerly U.S. Route 10)<ref name=usten>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rZYRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3172%2C8950598 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=U.S. 10 routing plan approved |date=February 26, 1957 |page=7}}</ref> at an elevation of {{convert|4710|ft|0}} above sea level.

Lookout Pass is the eastern border of northern Idaho's Silver Valley, and has the distinction of being "Exit 0" on Interstate 90 in Montana. Established {{Time ago|1935}} in 1935, Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area is on the eastbound side of the highway, straddling the border. The state border line is the ridge line of the mountains and at the pass runs briefly east–west, with Idaho on the north side and Montana the south.

The pass separates the communities of Mullan in Shoshone County, Idaho, and Saltese in Mineral County, Montana. It is the highest point on Interstate 90 between Seattle and Missoula. The pass is also a time zone border, with northern Idaho on Pacific Time and Montana on Mountain Time. Eastbound on I-90, its elevation is not surpassed until beyond Deer Lodge.

The pass was formerly traversed by the Northern Pacific Railway and the right-of-way is still intact and used as a rail trail.<ref name=frdofcda>{{cite web |url=https://friendsofcdatrails.org/northern-pacific-trail/ |work=Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trail |title=Northern Pacific Trail |accessdate=July 10, 2017}}</ref> The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad ("The Milwaukee Road") ran nearby, using the St. Paul Pass Tunnel south of Lookout Pass; its East Portal is at {{convert|4150|ft|round=5}}, {{convert|2|mi|0|spell=in}} southwest of exit 5 of I-90 in Montana. The {{convert|1.66|mi|adj=on}} tunnel was completed {{Time ago|1908}} in 1908 and is part of the ''Route of the Hiawatha'' rail trail.<ref name=rohtrlmp>{{cite web |url=http://www.ridethehiawatha.com/trail-maps |work=Route of the Hiawatha |title=Trail map |accessdate=July 10, 2017}}</ref>

The historic Mullan Road of 1860 crossed the Bitterroots nearby at Mullan Pass ({{coordinates|47.464|-115.637}}), approximately {{convert|3|mi|0|spell=in}} east-northeast at {{nowrap|{{convert|5168|ft}}.}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://lb.511.idaho.gov/idlb/mountainpasses/mountainpass.jsf?id=6 Webcam - Lookout Pass] from Idaho Transportation Department * [http://rwis.mdt.mt.gov/scanweb/SWFrame.asp?Pageid=Camera&Units=English&Groupid=150000&Siteid=150000&Senid=&WxId=1500&DisplayClass=Java&SenType=All&SenStatus=&Camera=1 Webcam - Lookout Pass] from Montana Department of Transportation * [http://www.davidrumsey.com/maps920003-23818.html David Rumsey Map Collection] – Historic road map (1937) – Idaho, Montana, Wyoming – Texaco (Rand McNally) **[http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~212065~5500205:Shell-Highway-Map-of-Idaho--8-DD-19 Idaho highway map (1956)] – Shell (H.M. Gousha)

Category:Mountain passes of Idaho Category:Mountain passes of Montana Category:Landforms of Shoshone County, Idaho Category:Landforms of Mineral County, Montana Category:Borders of Idaho Category:Borders of Montana Category:Transportation in Shoshone County, Idaho Category:Transportation in Mineral County, Montana Category:Idaho Panhandle National Forest Category:Interstate 90 Category:Rail mountain passes of the United States Category:Northern Pacific Railway