Spruce Mtn Fire Lookout Tower

Closed — Closed for the season. Open mid-June through early October, weather permitting. Snow drifts in June may affect accessibility and require packing items in from a distance.

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About

Perched atop a forested mountain in Medicine Bow National Forest, Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower provides visitors with a unique lodging experience steeped in history. The original fire lookout was constructed in 1938 by Civilian Conservation Corps workers as part of the New Deal program. After thirty years of service, it was replaced with the current 55-foot tall tower, which served as an active fire lookout until the 1990s. The tower was renovated and opened to the public for overnight rental in 1997. The lookout offers spectacular 360-degree views including Medicine Bow Peak, Rob Roy Reservoir, Jelm Mountain, and the southern end of the Snowy Range. At an elevation of 10,003 feet, guests experience high altitude conditions with summer daytime temperatures averaging 70 degrees but dropping as low as 30 degrees at night. The tower is equipped with a propane refrigerator, stove with oven, heater, lamps, two single beds, table and chairs, and a historic fire finder. Additional camping is allowed below the tower, accommodating up to 10 total occupants at the site. The area around the lookout offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hunting. Rob Roy Reservoir, located six miles from the tower, provides fishing, boating, and water skiing. Gold panning is popular in nearby Douglas Creek. The tower is accessible via Forest Service Road 500, a well-graveled road typically passable by two-wheel-drive vehicles, though high clearance is advised. Snow drifts in June may require guests to pack items in from a distance.

Directions

From Laramie, take Highway 130 west toward Centennial. Turn south on Highway 11 through Albany. The tower is located 7 miles west of Albany on Forest Service Road 500. High clearance vehicles are advised. The road may have logging operations during daylight hours.