Gold Fork Lookout was originally located on a precarious rock ledge with a long staircase to an open platform. The site began operation in circa 1918-20.

A new lookout, an R1/L-4 cabin on a 10 foot 20x20 concrete base was built 2 miles from the original location in 1933. 

The lookout's use was eventually discontinued and the cabin was relocated to the Crawford Forest Work Center northeast of Cascade in 1988.