Goat Peak (48.6321769, -120.4048947) The most prominent landmark in the beautiful Methow Valley, Goat Peak is famous for two things: it’s dazzling fall larch show and “Lightning Bill” Austin, who staffed the lookout for 19 seasons before moving to Leecher. I was beyond thrilled to open up Goat for the first time in six years as a volunteer fire lookout for the 2021 season. History. The original D-6 cupola cabin at Goat Peak was constructed in 1923 by the Chelan National Forest and then replaced in 1950 with the current L-4 cab on a 15′ timber tower. Goat Peak is one of the most prominent landmarks in the Methow Valley and has been staffed every year until 2014, it’s most famous resident being “Lightning Bill” Austin. The route. Although nearly every websites shows Goat Peak as a 5 mile roundtrip hike, it’s really much closer to 3.5 miles round trip. Though the trail starts relatively easy in open forest, after a half mile it turns upward and gains most of its elevation in a series of tight switchbacks to the summit. About a half mile short of the summit, the views open up to Silver Star and Gardner with the lookout visible in the distance. A large cairn block dedicated to all of the Goat Peak lookouts is just below the summit near a helipad. In the fall, this trail turns into a dazzling show with colorful golden larches and beautiful views of the Pasayten, North Cascades, and Tiffany Highlands. 2022-10-09 16:00