Fire Lookouts are available as rentals in many states and provide a unique getaway experience. If you don’t mind packing in your own gear and staying on top of the world, try renting a lookout!
Lookout Rentals are listed below and are grouped by state. Rentals are largely provided by the US Forest Service, though other agency rentals are listed when available. As most lookouts are remote and only provide primitive services, do read the rental descriptions carefully before reserving.
The FFLA is NOT involved in the management of lookout rental programs.
Nearly all US Forest Service lookout rentals are managed through www.recreation.gov. These reservations open on a 6-month rolling basis at 7:00 a.m. (Pacific time). So on January 8 you can make reservations that start on July 8. Lookouts have become extremely popular rentals – most are fully booked for the season and many are reserved within minutes after the 7:00 a.m. opening. Before selecting a lookout, do your research to understand what you’re getting into in terms of road conditions, amenities, etc.
Helpful information may be found on these websites:
Every Lookout in Oregon: Lookout Rentals
Lookout Rental How-To’s (USFS)
History of the USFS Rental Program
Unless otherwise noted, these lookout rentals are managed through Recreation.Gov.
California
Bear Basin Lookout
Black Mountain Lookout
Calpine Lookout
Girard Ridge Lookout
Hirz Mountain Lookout
Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout
McCarthy Point Lookout
Oak Flat Lookout (Currently Unavailable)
Pine Mountain Lookout
Post Creek Lookout
Sardine Peak Lookout (Currently Unavailable)
Colorado
Jersey Jim Lookout (Managed by Jersey Jim Foundation)
Mestaa’Ėhehe (Squaw) Mountain Lookout
Idaho
Arid Peak Lookout
Bald Mountain Lookout
Bishop Mountain Lookout Cabin
Castle Butte Lookout (Maintenance Closure 2024)
Crystal Peak Relocated Lookout (Managed by private owner)
Deadwood Lookout
Deer Ridge Lookout
Little Guard Lookout
Lookout Butte Lookout
Lunch Peak Lookout
Shorty Peak Lookout
Spyglass Lookout Ground House
Surveyors Ridge Lookout
Walde Lookout Cabin
Montana
Big Creek Baldy Lookout
Big Hole Lookout
Cougar Peak Lookout
Diamond Butte Lookout
Double Arrow Lookout
Garnet Mountain Lookout
Garver Mountain Lookout
Gem Peak Lookout
Gird Point Lookout
Granite Butte Lookout
Hornet Lookout
McCart Lookout (Maintenance Closure 2024)
McGuire Mountain Lookout
Meadow Peak Lookout
Medicine Point Lookout
Minton Peak Lookout
Mission Lookout
Monument Peak Lookout
Mt. Baldy Lookout
Mt. Wam Lookout (Currently Unavailable)
Sex Peak Lookout
Strawberry Lookout Cabin
Thompson Peak Lookout
Up Up Lookout
Webb Mountain Lookout
Werner Peak Lookout (Managed by MT DNRC)
West Fork Butte Lookout
Yaak Mountain Lookout
Oregon
Acker Rock Lookout
Acorn Woman (Squaw) Peak Lookout
Bald Butte Lookout
Bald Knob Lookout
Clear Lake Butte Lookout
Drake Peak Lookout
Fall Mountain Lookout
Fivemile Butte Lookout
Flag Point Lookout
Gold Butte Lookout (Maintenance Closure 2024)
Green Ridge Lookout
Hager Mountain Lookout
Indian Ridge Lookout
Lake Of The Woods Lookout
Pickett Butte Lookout
Snow Camp Lookout
Tamarack Lookout Cabin
Timber Butte Replica Lookout
Warner Mountain Lookout
South Dakota
Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin
Washington
Clearwater Lookout Cabin
Evergreen Mountain Lookout (Maintenance Closure 2024)
Heybrook Lookout
Lorena Butte Relocated Lookout (Managed by private owner)
North Mountain Lookout (Managed by Friends of North Mountain)
Quartz Mountain Lookout (Managed by WA State Parks)
Steliko Point Lookout
Tyee Lookout
West Virginia
Thorny Mountain Fire Tower (Managed by WV State Parks)
Wisconsin
Gordon Fire Tower Cabin (Managed by local non-profit group)