| Wildfires have scorched acres of National Forests | | | | The other trail winds through the forest with spurt |
| lands in the last several dry years. Manned fire | | | | trails to Mt. Hough, Argentine Rock, and Smith Peak |
| lookouts can prevent such fires, which close OHV | | | | Fire Lookouts. It is also part of a designated Forest |
| trails and limit forest access. The Forest Service has | | | | Service OHV trail network for ATVs and dirtbikes. |
| dismantled hundreds of lookouts despite their | | | | Snowmobilers and cross-country skiers flock to this |
| importance. Remaining lookout towers, intriguing | | | | trail in winter. Lake Davis, at the road's end, is |
| structures perched in precarious and remote | | | | stocked with trout and is popular with boaters, |
| locations, have achieved cult status. Many have been | | | | picnickers, and campers. Remains of the Walker Mine |
| refurbished into rustic cabins and campers rent them | | | | and mill are located at the mid-point of this drive. This |
| for overnight backcountry trips. | | | | extensive copper mining operation once employed |
| Plumas National Forest in northeastern California has | | | | 600 men and maintained a sizable town for its |
| two adjacent off-road trails with a total of 5 fire | | | | workers nearby. Beware; the huge tailings pond and |
| lookouts to visit. Not all the lookout towers still | | | | mill remains have been declared a toxic site. |
| standing are currently in use. Advancements in fire | | | | Established in about 1909, Mt. Hough (pronounced |
| detection systems and budgetary restrictions | | | | Huff) is one of the earliest lookouts erected in |
| gradually eliminated the need to man all the towers. | | | | Plumas National Forest. Construction costs totaled |
| Plumas, like most other California National Forests, still | | | | only $303 at the time. Plumas replaced the original |
| staffs lookouts in the summer. | | | | lookout tower with a new structure in 1916 and |
| Thompson Peak Trail starts 9 miles south of | | | | another in 1934. The forest finally built the |
| Susanville. Grizzly Ridge Trail is located about 24 miles | | | | three-story structure on the site today in 1986. |
| southwest of Susanville off Highway 89. Both trails | | | | With its commercial phone line directly to "civilization," |
| are easy dirt roads with more difficult spur trails | | | | this station acts as a hub for the forest's other |
| leading up to the towers. These are just two of the | | | | lookouts. With permission, visitors can normally climb |
| trails in the area that form a network of interesting | | | | the tower during the summer to see the expansive |
| 4-wheel drive roads for all difficulty levels. | | | | 360-degree views. Like the site of Thompson Peak |
| One trail climbs to Thompson Peak and Red Rock | | | | Lookout, hang-gliders also launch from Mt. Hough. The |
| Fire Lookouts. Both are staffed during fire season, | | | | spur to the lookout continues past the tower, |
| and the watchman typically gives visitors permission | | | | descending steeply to the picturesque Crystal Lake. |
| to climb the towers and admire the view. | | | | This rough, steep descent is difficult. |
| Constructed in 1955, Red Rock Fire Lookout fell into | | | | Argentine Rock Fire Lookout is 10 miles from the |
| disuse for a short time, but rejuvenated and | | | | turn-off to Mt. Hough Lookout. The forest |
| reopened in 1984. | | | | constructed this now-abandoned structure in 1934. |
| The Civilian Conservation Corps built Thompson Peak | | | | Budget cutbacks and the use of fixed-wing aircraft |
| Lookout in about 1931. The square concrete building | | | | to spot wildfires eliminated the need to staff this |
| beside the lookout was added in 1950 as the seat of | | | | lookout. Vandalism and neglect have made the |
| a three-legged iron tower. A radar dome topped the | | | | structure unsafe. |
| 34-foot tower and scanned the sky as part of the | | | | At Smith Peak Fire Lookout, you can look back over |
| Early Warning Defense System, created during World | | | | Grizzly Ridge and overlook Lake Davis. The Smith |
| War II. Throughout the war, a typical part of all | | | | Peak site was initially used only as an emergency |
| lookouts' jobs included scanning the horizon for | | | | vantage point. Only the most rugged watchmen |
| Japanese aircraft. | | | | manned the rock crest before the forest |
| Not only does the Thompson Peak site serve as a | | | | constructed the current structure in 1935. Forest |
| fire lookout, it is also a noted observation point for | | | | service staff welcomes visitors in the summer |
| raptor migration and a popular hang-glider launch site. | | | | between 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. |
| Falcons, bald eagles, and hang-gliders ride thermals, | | | | This information and much more is available in Adler |
| created by warm air rising from Honey Lake below, | | | | Publishing's Backcountry Adventures series. |
| to gain altitude. | | | | |