Fire Lookouts on the Lost Sierra Route

Mount Harkness (Burned in Dixie Fire)

Elev. 7,985’. Const. 1931. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Plumas Co.

The National Park Service has fewer than 40 lookouts. Mount Harkness Lookout in the Lassen Volcanic National Park has been in active service since it was built in 1931. The classic 15'x15' cab with log catwalk and railings is atop a 15' stone tower with stairs of split logs.

Dyer Mountain

Elev. 7,474’. Const. 1934. Lassen Volcanic National Forest, Lassen County.

Dyer Mountain Lookout is a California Region 5 Plan BC-301 Cabin on a 15 foot enclosed timber tower. This 1934 built structure is owned by Lassen National Forest but used by CDF. The lower room of the lookout is currently used by CAL FIRE to house radio equipment and associated hardware. The tower has not been used as a lookout since 2007.

Pegleg Mountain

Elev. 7,112’. Const. 1984. Lassen National Forest, Lassen County.

The Red River Lumber Company established and built the lookout. The Lassen National Forest took over administration sometime in the 1920's. Cal Fire now owns the lookout and constructed a new structure in 1984. The Lassen National Forest was staffing the lookout as of 2016. The 1920's lookout was removed to the Susanville fairgrounds. The infrastructure design of the tower is similar to Plan Number 1558 (Bully Choop). The cab is based on the 73 2-6A plan.

Red Rock

Elev. 7,620’. Const. 1941. Plumas National Forest, Plumas Co.

This structure replaced the 1933/34 built lookout in 1941. The building is a California Region 5 Plan BC-301 Cabin on a 10 foot enclosed timber tower.

Thompson Peak

Elev. 7,795’. Const. 1931. Plumas National Forest, Plumas County.

Thompson Peak Lookout was constructed and opened in June 1931. The Lookout is an R1 design, a Region 1 revision of the California Region 4AR per Thornton.

Kettle Rock

Elev. 7,826’. Const. 1953. Plumas National Forest, Plumas Co.

This tower was removed between 2014 and 2017. A repeater vault now occupies the site. The first lookout structure was established on Kettle Rock in 1912. A California Region 5 Plan 4AR structure replaced the original in 1923. The most recent Kettle Rock Lookout was a California Region 5 BC-1401 design, a revision of the classic BC-301. The structure was built in 1953 on a 9 foot block tower and was reported vandalized in 2012.

Black Mountain Lookout

Black Mountain - Elev. 7,050’. Const. 1934. Plumas National Forest, Plumas County.

Constructed in 1934 by the CCC, Black Mountain Lookout is a classic C3 14’x14’ live-in cab with catwalk of an original Forest Service R-5 design (California Region). It is mounted on an 11’ enclosed timber tower and located on the Plumas National Forest. Black Mt. L.O. Grand opening on the Plumas National Forest is open as a recreational rental effective May 26, 2011. 

Rental:  https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233296  

Mount Hough

Elev. 7,232’. Const. 1986. Plumas National Forest, Plumas Co.

A lookout point with a telephone line was established in 1911, by July a structure had been built on the site. This building was replaced in 1915, likely by an original plan California 4A on a short tower. In 1934 a BC-301 cabin replaced the existing structure. The structure was replaced again in 1986 and houses some microwave relays. Mount Hough is regularly staffed for fire detection. Wayne Pease has spent 30 of his 50 years as a Lookout observer at Mount Hough.

Mount Ingalls

Elev. 8,372’. Const.1936. Plumas National Forest, Plumas Co.

The structure was dismantled and reconstructed at the Plumas County Fairgrounds in Quincy CA in 1984 where it continues to serve as a fire detection interpretive site to this day. Mount Ingalls is the Plumas County high point at 8372 feet. The lookout was constructed in 1936, a California region 5 Plan BC-301 on a 10 foot enclosed timber tower.

Argentine Rock Lookout

Argentine Rock - Elev. 7,209’. Const. 1934. Plumas National Forest, Plumas Co.

Scenically perched on a rocky peak on the Mt. Hough Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest, Argentine Rock Lookout was in active service until 1980. Construction on the 11' enclosed tower with C-3 cab and catwalk was begun in 1934 and first staffed in 1936. 

Smith Peak

Elev. 7,693’. Const. 1936. Plumas National Forest, Plumas Co.

Smith Peak is a California Region 5 Plan BC-301 cabin on a 9 foot enclosed timber tower. The structure was completed in August 1936 and is actively staffed as of 2020.

Dixie Mountain

Elev. 8,327’. Const. 1928. Plumas Forest, Plumas Co.

Oldest lookout on the Plumas. Dixie Mountain is a rare, surviving California Region 5 - Plan 4AR design. Built in 1928 on an enclosed 10 foot timber tower. Dixie Mountain continues to be staffed during the fire season.

Pilot Peak

Elev. 7,457’. Const. 1976. Plumas National Forest, Plumas Co.

The honor for NHLR listing #600 goes to Pilot Peak Lookout on the Feather River district of the Plumas National Forest. The structure is a two story, hexagonal cab with unique flying buttress supports for the overhang designed by USFS Architect Robert Sandusky. The first cabin on the site, built in 1916, was a 4A groundhouse, which was extensively reconstructed by the CCC in 1935. When vandals burned the lookout in 1971, the agency selected the site for this unique prototype in 1976. It was also the first Forest Service lookout to be solar powered.

Mills Peak

Elev. 7,232’. Const. 1986. Plumas National Forest, Plumas Co.

Located on the Beckwourth Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest, the first Mills Peak Lookout was an L-4 ground house (unusual for California) constructed in 1933. Mills Peak Lookout was recently restored and reactivated for fire detection in 2005.

Calpine Hill Lookout

Calpine - Elev. 5,836’. Const. 1934. Tahoe National Forest, Sierra Co.

A beautifully restored classic California design, Calpine Hill Lookout is an example of a Tahoe National Forest ranger district seeking partnerships to keep important lookouts. Built in 1934 by the CCC, it is a C-3 14’x14’ wooden cab with catwalk on an enclosed 17’ tower. Living quarters are on the first landing.  

Rental: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234131 

Saddleback Mountain Lookout

Saddleback Mountain - Elev. 6,690’. Const. 1934. Tahoe Forest, Sierra Co.

The Civilian Conservation Corps built this Forest Service architecturally designed “BC-3” live-in cab and “BETT” 7 foot tower in 1934. There is mention of asbestos tiles over the original wood siding. Saddleback Lookout is historically significant as the only “short BETT” tower on the Tahoe National Forest built by the CCC. It is a 14’x14’ BC-3 live-in groundhouse with catwalk perched on rock outcrop. It is popular with visitors.

Sierra Buttes Lookout

Sierra Buttes - Elev. 8,587’. Const. 1963. Tahoe National Forest, Sierra Co.

The view from Sierra Buttes Lookout on the Tahoe National Forest is surpassed only by the stunning location. The National Geographic Magazine described it as a “spectacular location that has to be seen to be believed.” The site was first used for fire detection in 1908. In 1916 a 12’x12’ cabin was built. Then in 1933 a 9’x9’ cab was constructed on a 6’ base. The current CL-100 metal 14’x14’ live-in cab went into service in 1963. It is reached by a series of stairs with 176 steps. 

Sardine Peak

Sardine Peak - Elev. 8,135’. Const. 1935. Tahoe Forest, Sierra Co.

The first structure at Sardine Point Lookout was 4-A cab on an enclosed wood tower built in 1915. The current 14’x14’ C-3 cab on an enclosed 17’ tower was constructed in 1935 by the CCC on the Tahoe National Forest. Sardine Peak was refurbished in 2009.

Rental -  https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/252037 

Babbit Peak Lookout

Babbitt Peak - Elev. 8,727’ Const.1929. Tahoe National Forest, Sierra Co.

One of the classic “Dunce Cap” lookout cabs, Babbitt Peak Lookout on the Tahoe National Forest is a prime example of a California region design with a steep roof pitch developed in 1923 and copied by other Forest Service regions throughout the U.S. although very few examples remain. In Oregon the design is known as the “Supervisor Hall Special.” Most of the D-5 cabs had a lower roof pitch. In good condition, the station is an active detection site.

Verdi Peak Lookout

Verdi Peak - Elev. 8,444’. Const. 1983. Tahoe Forest, Sierra Co. (NA) Verdi Peak Lookout was constructed in 1983, replacing earlier structures. A lookout has been on Verdi Peak since at least 1939. Mark V. Thornton's 1986 survey describes the cab as a 'KEV' with no further detail. The structure appears similar to the Chew's Ridge Lookout in Monterey County. The lookout is no longer in service, since at least 1998.