Colorado Lookouts
August 14, 2001
Sketch by Vi Schweiker dated 1987
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Squaw Mtn Lookout
Arapahoe National Forest
Elevation: 11486
Status: Standing
Original tower built: 1925
Original structure type: 16'x10' or 16'x20' (depending on the source)
Current tower built: 1940
Current structure type: 14’x14’ Rocky Mountain cab
with catwalk on a one-story stone base
Squaw Mountain Lookout was put on the National Historic Lookout Register in 2003. It underwent a ten-year restoration project from 1993-2003 by the Colorado Forestry Assn., U.S.F.S. and FFLA. Beginning in 2006, the same group began repair and maintenance with anticipation of placing the lookout on the rental system.
The city and county of Denver built the original lookout in 1925. The new lookout, built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) for the U.S. Forest Service, was placed higher in elevation by 50 feet, increasing the view to cover the Berthoud Pass area. It was destroyed by a windstorm on January 7, 1969 and rebuilt with a roof designed to withstand the wind and snow.
Visit the National Historic Lookout Register entry for Squaw Mountain.
For more information, especially with respect to radio equipment and operations, see Forest Fire Lookout Towers of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests and Rocky Mountain National Park.
After the storm