The Mud Lake Lookout was established in 1921 with the original gabled-roof design (instead of the later hipped roofs) L-4 built in 1932. The lookout is described as the only remaining “original” lookout left in the Bob Marshall. Abandoned in 1972, the lookout was threatened by a a forest fire in 2000, but has had ongoing restoration work being conducted by the Northwest Montana Fire Lookout Association.