View from Stafford
Lookout Site looking NW toward Esmeralda Peaks
Stafford Lookout Site is located 12 miles NNE of Cle Elum. The
lookout was built by the Forest Service in 1935. It was an L-4 cab
at the south end of a ridge at elevation 3784 feet.
To get there, from Hiway 970 east of Cle Elum, take the North Fork
Teanaway Road. After passing 29 Pines Campground (about 7 miles),
bear right onto Stafford Creek Road (FR 9703). Then after a mile,
turn left onto Standup Creek Road and drive to the trailhead. The
last mile of road is rough with several deep water berms, so a high
clearance rig is recommended. There is a foot bridge at the
trailhead that crosses over Standup Creek. You will then hike south
on the old lookout road. Its a fairly steady uphill walk to the
lookout site. Total hiking distance (one-way) is 1.1 miles with a
620 feet elevation gain. At the end of the old lookout road, the
last 200 feet to the site is a trail.
The cache container is an ammo can, hidden in the rocks on the
east downhill side of the lookout site. There are a couple of
spoiler photos (below) if you need them.
On a clear day looking south you can see Mt. Rainier. To the
right of Mt. Rainier, about 5.5 miles away, is Teanway Butte,
another old lookout site, and home of The Butte cache by
Rentakid.
Foot Bridge at the Trailhead crosses over Standup Creek