Ute Mountain Fire Lookout

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. The tower served as the fire lookout's living quarters, thirty feet above the ground with a 14 foot by 14 foot cab. Due to the tower's role in forest history and the efforts of those who preserved and restored it for operational use, Ute Lookout was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In 1998, the National Historic Lookout Register recognized Ute Lookout as a historic lookout- and has the last of its kind still standing in Utah.  Today the tower serves as a monument to a part of our cultural heritage—the early years of fire prevention and detection by the Forest Service- while remaining in use as an active lookout during the height of the Ashley National Forest's fire season.

VISIT

Visit the tower and see what life is like for fire lookouts while enjoying views of the High Uintas, Flaming Gorge, the historic Carter Military Highway and, on a clear day, both Wyoming and Colorado. The tower is located two and one-half miles west of Sheep Creek Geologic Loop. Take the turn off towards Spirit Lake, then follow signs for Ute Tower. The tower is open from Friday to Sunday 10-4, Memorial Day-Labor Day .  To ensure the lookout is at the tower and not assigned to a fire, contact the Flaming Gorge Ranger District Office in Manila, Utah at 435-781-5260 for more information.  The hiking trail to Browne Lake also begins at the tower parking area.