"Nebula" Photo by Barbara McCabe, 2023 Artist in the Lookout ©2023

 The Black Mountain Lookout Perched at 7,161 feet on the eastern edge of the Plumas National Forest, the refurbished Black Mountain Lookout offers sweeping views across Nevada’s Basin and Range, with the active Thompson Peak Lookout to the north and Honey Lake resting at the base of the Sierra Nevada escarpment below.

Originally built in the late 1930s–early 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the lookout served for decades as both home and office for rangers of the historic Milford Ranger District, now the Beckwourth Ranger District. After more than thirty years out of service, the structure has been thoughtfully restored.

Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, the lookout has been retrofitted with electricity, heating, a stove, refrigerator, and modern lightning-grounding technology—bringing comfort while preserving its historic character.

Today, the Black Mountain Lookout is an ideal retreat for hikers and cyclists, photographers seeking dramatic sunrise and sunset views, stargazers, adventurous families, and anyone craving solitude in the mountains without sleeping on the ground.

Access begins near the small settlement of Milford along State Highway 395, approximately twenty-three miles south of Susanville. Roads to the lookout are gravel and dirt; visitors should plan accordingly and arrive with a capable vehicle.


Click here for more information, directions, and reservations.

APPLICATION OPENING SPRING 2026

2026 Artist in Residence at Black Mountain Lookout 
The Artist in The Lookout Residence program offers a singular opportunity for one selected artist to spend three nights at the historic Black Mountain Lookout, immersed in the vast and varied landscape of the Plumas National Forest. This residency invites focused creative time in an extraordinary setting—encouraging reflection, exploration, and artistic response to place.

In exchange, the selected artist will contribute an original framed artwork and/or a cohesive body of work inspired by the residency and collaborate with Plumas Arts on a public presentation of the work in November 2026.

Program Vision & Goals. 
The Artist in Residence program uses art as a lens to explore the many ways people connect with the Plumas National Forest. Program goals include:

• Capturing the beauty, history, and spirit of the Plumas National Forest through high-quality artistic work
• Creating meaningful learning opportunities for visitors through the arts
• Deepening public understanding of the relationship between public lands, natural resources, and our emotional connection to place
• Celebrating the power of artists to interpret, reflect, and engage with forest landscapes and related issues

Artist Selection
Artists are selected through a competitive review process based on:

• Alignment of the proposed work with the forest’s interpretive themes
• Professional experience and artistic merit
• Completeness of the application packet
• Submitted work samples or website link

Applications for the 2026 Artist in Residence program will open in Spring 2026.