Experience a Retired Fire Lookout Tower

How to Book a Fire Watch

We found all of the available Fire Lookout Towers by state using this website that will then take you to the Government’s Recreation site when you click on your desired location where you can find availability and book. They do book quickly, and they open up one day at a time 6 months in advanced. I checked early and often and snagged the first one I saw for Oak Flat Lookout in California that was drivable for us. They are extremely reasonably priced since they are bare bones and a lot like glamping. There isn’t a cleaning staff or anyone who comes by in between stays, so you rely on the kindness of strangers to keep the fire watch in good order and clean it for the next guests. The listing should inform you on what the set up will be so you can plan accordingly!

The Experience

Staying in a Fire Lookout is such a special experience and a treat not everyone gets to enjoy, if you see an open slot - book it! We spent the first few hours getting everything up into the lookout. There was a steep ladder and a little pully system to get the heavy stuff up. I am not the best with heights, and found I needed two hands on the ladder, so the pully basket was a savior. My dog also didn’t care for the ladder so we actually carried him up and down in a duffle bag, if you can’t carry your dog I would maybe leave your fur critter behind on this one if your lookout has a steep ladder. They can go up but not down since you have to go down backwards!!

After we got settled, we enjoyed the 360 degree view and really took in just how in the middle of no where we really were! Sitting on the deck and drinking a glass of wine, watching all the wildlife below was just magical. Watching the sun set and then watching how long it takes to really get dark was something I’ve never really grasped before. and WOW the stars!! We listened to music and danced under our little twinkle lights and felt totally safe up in our cozy tower. There are no shades, and the glow of dawn will likely wake up you which is well worth watching the sun rise. We brought bottled coffee and watched as the sun broke out over the mountains.

I liked the culture of visitors who stayed in the Fire Watch. You pass each other like ships in the night, never actually meeting but feeling the care of strangers through extra water left behind, cookware donated to the tower, books people finished and left for a new reader and a journal documenting each person’s stay and experience. There is no cleaning crew or caretaker that comes in between stays, everyone respects their time and leaves the place the way they found it for the next adventurer to enjoy. We are all in this together and we all shared a little piece of heaven that connected us. I loved reading the journal.

Even though we were totally removed from society it really made me feel connected with my fellow humans.

What to Pack and Prepare for Your Stay

Our lookout did not have electricity, but it did have a gas stove and lamp which helped us prepare. We packed a cooler, food we could cook on the stove, string lights with a USB cord that could be used off a battery bank (linked below), said battery bank, a wireless speaker, plenty of water, all necessary bedding for two twin beds (it did get cold at night), and cookware like a pan and utensils, plastic cups, trash bag, paper towels, compact mirror and TP. The bathroom was down below on the ground!

Useful Items For Your Stay