USFS, Ashley NF
HistoriCorps completed repairs to the tower in the summer of 2014.
Go to the following websites for more photos and background:
Visit the National Historic Lookout entry for Ute Mountain Lookout.
Getting there: Take Highway 44 to the Sheep Creek Geological Loop. The tower is located two and one-half miles west of the loop. Take the turn off on the unpaved and narrow road towards Spirit Lake.
Ute Mountain Lookout
Ashley National Forest
Elevation: 8834
Status: Standing
Year Built: 1937
Structure Type: Wood 14'x14'cab on 50' tower
According to the Ashley National Forest website, "Ute Mountain Lookout was the first and is the last standing fire tower with living quarters above ground in Utah. The tower offers a panoramic view of the Ashley National Forest and surrounding area. From it, an observer can see over 360 square miles of virtually uninhabited northeastern slope of the Uinta Mountain Range.
"Between 1935-1937, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the tower. It has served to the present time, with only a brief period when the tower was not in use...
"Ute Tower was a tourist attraction until its closing September, 2008. Recent inspections revealed some decay in the tower legs and stairway. The tower will now be closed to access until repairs are made. However, public may still visit the site where the tower is located for ground observation."
There was a Utah State History web page, "Markers and Monuments Database", which stated that the wooden sign at the lookout reads: "UTE MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT TOWER Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937, this historic tower remains in use as a fire lookout interpretive site. Elevation 8,834 Ft." Unfortunately, the web page for searching markers and monuments is inactive as of December, 2013.
USHS National Register plaque: "UTE MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER The Ute Mountain Fire Lookout Tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1937. It is unique as the only structure in the entire state of Utah operated for the purpose of fire detection and supporting observation and living quarters on an elevated tower."