An Overhead View of Northern California from Whiskeytown’s Bully Choop Lookout

Sometimes a trip starts from your eye catching a name on a map. For our trip, it started when we were looking at the map of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and noticed a small dirt road that headed off to the southwest with the words “To Bully Choop Fire Lookout.” Before noticing this, I’d never even heard of this lookout. We’ve attempted it twice, successfully summiting it the most recent time.

After a little research, we found out that the lookout resided on BLM land and at a summit of 6,977 feet. It is also listed as number 300 on the National Historic Lookout Register. When we attempted it earlier in the year, we found deep snow and a road that was occasionally bordered by sharp drop offs. Even before turning back, we were granted views of the snow-capped Trinity Alps, a glimpse at the remote campsite at Coggins Peak, and could see the outline of the Lookout against the fading sky.




This time, we went prepared for snow. We even took the precaution of renting snowshoes in case the snow stopped us again and we had to hike in. We left relatively late in the day, and began the drive up. We began by heading west on 299, and eventually found the small, indescribably turn-off that led into the mountains. The road slowly winds into the mountains, alternating between being hidden tucked into the trees, and exposing the driver to beautiful vistas.

We knew that we were losing sunlight. Although the lookout seems close to Redding as the crow flies, the drive takes time. The road is narrow at parts, and the few times we encountered another vehicle we had to find a wide spot for one of us to pull over.

Once again, from a distance we could spot the lookout as the sharpest point on the “high sharp peak,” as the name “Bo-li Chu-ip” roughly translates to. Our snow precautions were unnecessary, we ended up finding a few small patches of snow that could be bypassed by a Prius. Still, it was nice to take the snowshoes for a ride.

Finally, we came to an open gate. One of my coworkers had told me that she had done this drive three times, only to find the gate closed each time. However, the lookout is only about a mile past this landmark, although the road becomes remarkably more gnarly. We just put it in 4×4 and drove slow and crawled over the sharp rocks and the journey went without a problem. After turning the final switchback, we came to the flat cement helipad at the base of the lookout. We arrived exactly at dusk. The horizon was the definitive border between the light and dark, with the last rays of sun and blue sky slowly disappearing.

The lookout is surrounded by a metal catwalk. We were the only people up there. From here, we could see Mt. Shasta, Black Butte, Lassen Peak, and the twinkling lights of the cities and I-5 corridor far below. In every direction we looked, the fading lights illuminated the peaks and made them all enticing and desolate.

If we didn’t have plans the next morning, camping here would be interesting. The flat helipad would be the perfect level spot to pitch a tent, provided we had sleeping pads to insulate from the solid concrete. I wondered how much wind this location was sure to be exposed to.

The drive down seemed to go much quicker, although at times it felt like we had to ride the brakes to safely descend. In the darkness, with our headlights illuminating a cone of light around us, the road almost seemed less sinister. Perhaps because we couldn’t see the steep walls next to the road.




As with every place we adventure, we must urge an adherence to the Leave No Trace principles. These remote vistas can be ruined by the sight of trash that careless explorers left. I hesitate to write about less well-known locations when I fear others may not respect them. So if you are inclined to visit them, please bring along a trash bag and pack out whatever you pack in. Together, we can share in the caretaking of these places and allow the next visitor to enjoy the beauty that we have experienced.

Here is a video of a fall day from the lookout:

Ryan Loughrey

Ryan has been wandering the PNW since 1993. Follow his blog at peaceloveandabowlofrice.wordpress.com

90 Comments

  1. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that
    I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your weblog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I’m hoping you write once more
    very soon!

  2. I was excited to discover this great site.
    I wanted to thank you for your time for this wonderful read!!
    I definitely loved every bit of it and I have you book marked to check out new information in your web site.

  3. I know this web site presents quality depending
    posts and additional material, is there any other web site which provides such data in quality?

  4. Your style is so unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff
    from. Thanks for posting when you’ve got
    the opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this site.

  5. Let me give you a thumbs up man. Can I show my appreciatation amazing values and
    if you want to with no joke truthfully see and
    also share valuable info about how to make money yalla lready know follow
    me my fellow commenters!.

  6. I got this web page from my friend who shared with me regarding this website and now this time I
    am browsing this website and reading very informative content here.

  7. Spot on with this write-up, I actually think this web site needs
    a lot more attention. I’ll probably be back again to see more, thanks for
    the info!

  8. Twee identieke munten van bv. Hoe meer vraag er naar goud is, hoe hoger de goudprijs is.
    De premie is de prijs die betaald wordt om de munt in uw bezit te hebben. Keizer
    Karel met een verschillende kwaliteit resulteert in twee verschillende
    prijzen.

  9. It’s perfect time to make some plans for the long run and it’s
    time to be happy. I have read this put up and if I may
    just I wish to counsel you some attention-grabbing things or tips.

    Maybe you could write subsequent articles referring to
    this article. I want to learn more issues approximately it!

  10. Beoordeel recept ‘gingerbread men’ Met een account kan je dit recept beoordelen. Recept bewaren gingerbread men Met een account kan je dit recept bewaren bij je favorieten. Teruggebeld en mededeling
    gekregen : onbestaand nummer.

  11. great submit, very informative. I ponder why the
    opposite experts of this sector don’t notice this. You should continue
    your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a great readers’
    base already!

  12. But for lots of of us, the believed of 3 (or a
    lot more) years of assignments, essays and exams tend to make us
    break out in hives.

  13. Electricians set up, repair, and sustain wiring in residences, workplace buildings, and anywhere eose there’s an electrical program.

  14. Thanks for finally talking about >An Overhead View of
    Northern California from Whiskeytown’s Bully Choop Lookout – Active
    NorCal <Liked it!

  15. Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?
    I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked
    hard on. Any suggestions?

  16. hello there and thank you for your information – I have certainly picked up something
    new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using
    this site, as I experienced to reload the web site
    a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
    I had been wondering if your hosting is OK?
    Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if advertising and marketing with
    Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of
    your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again soon.

  17. I got this web site from my pal who shared with me on the topic of this site and
    now this time I am visiting this web site and reading very informative articles here.

  18. You actually make it seem really easy together with your presentation but I in finding this topic
    to be actually one thing which I think I would by no means understand.
    It sort of feels too complex and extremely huge for me. I’m having a look ahead in your next publish, I will try to get the grasp of it!

  19. Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend
    your website, how could i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.

    I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear
    idea

  20. Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement
    account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
    However, how can we communicate?

  21. I’ve read some just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking
    for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you set
    to create this sort of magnificent informative site.

  22. A motivating discussion is definitely worth
    comment. There’s no doubt that that you need to publish more on this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but
    typically people do not discuss these issues. To the next!

    All the best!!

  23. Magnificent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog
    site? The account helped me a applicable deal.
    I have been tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast provided
    brilliant transparent idea

  24. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
    I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but
    other than that, this is great blog. An excellent read.

    I’ll definitely be back.

  25. My family members all the time say that I am wasting my time here at net, however I know
    I am getting knowledge everyday by reading thes good posts.

  26. I do trust all the concepts you’ve offered for your post.
    They are really convincing and will certainly work.
    Nonetheless, the posts are very quick for novices. Could you please lengthen them a little from next time?

    Thanks for the post.

  27. Hey there! I’ve been following your weblog for some time
    now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Huffman Tx!

    Just wanted to say keep up the excellent work!

  28. Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you really know what you are speaking approximately!
    Bookmarked. Kindly also seek advice from my website =). We can have a hyperlink change
    arrangement between us

  29. Hey I am so thrilled I found your site, I really found you by
    mistake, while I was searching on Google for something else,
    Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thank
    you for a incredible post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to go through it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and
    also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please
    do keep up the excellent work.

  30. Hello! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give
    a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading your blog posts.
    Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that
    go over the same topics? Thanks a ton!

  31. That is a great tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
    Brief but very accurate info… Appreciate your sharing this one.
    A must read article!

  32. I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post
    is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem.

    You’re incredible! Thanks!

  33. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems
    as though you relied on the video to make your point.
    You obviously know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos
    to your site when you could be giving us something informative to read?

  34. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be
    happy. I’ve read this put up and if I may I want to suggest you few attention-grabbing
    issues or tips. Perhaps you can write next articles relating to this article.
    I wish to learn more issues about it!

  35. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.
    The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.

    nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over
    that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly
    again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.

  36. Hello There. I discovered your weblog using msn. That is an extremely neatly written article.
    I will make sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of your useful information. Thanks for the post.
    I will definitely return.

  37. My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for.

    can you offer guest writers to write content for yourself?
    I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a
    lot of the subjects you write in relation to here.
    Again, awesome blog!

  38. Howdy! Quick question that’s completely off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
    My site looks weird when viewing from my iphone
    4. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that
    might be able to correct this issue. If you
    have any suggestions, please share. Appreciate it!

  39. I would like to thank you for the efforts you
    have put in writing this website. I am hoping to check out the same high-grade content from
    you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my
    own blog now 😉

  40. Wow, fantastic blog structure! How long have you ever been running a blog for?

    you make running a blog look easy. The whole look of your web site is excellent,
    let alone the content! You can see similar: e-commerce and here e-commerce

  41. Hello to every one, the contents existing at this website
    are actually awesome for people knowledge, well, keep up the
    good work fellows. You can see similar: sklep online and here dobry sklep

  42. Appreciating the dedication you put into your site and in depth information you present. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material. Excellent read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back to top button