Get a 360-degree view of Idaho from these fire lookout towers. 5 aren’t far from Boise
Idaho was once home to nearly 1,000 fire lookouts — great towers that would stand above the trees, offering 360-degree views of the surrounding wilderness. The towers were used by spotters, who would look for smoke rising above the trees and report possible wildfires.
Technology has decreased the need for spotters to the point that only a few lookouts in the state remain staffed, but many more remain standing and open to the public throughout the Gem State. Some towers have been converted into overnight rentals, while others can be visited and climbed for the vista.
They are all different heights — some are as high as a 100-foot tall tower, some are just basically a small cabin, but nearly all of them stand thousands of feet above the Treasure Valley.
Here are some of the best fire lookouts close to Boise that you can visit today. The following map also shows all lookout locations throughout the state.
Fire lookouts close to Boise
Located just off Lake Lowell in southwest Nampa, Big Tower Lookout ironically is one of the lowest elevation towers in the state at 2,605 feet above sea level. For reference, Boise is 2,700 feet above sea level.
But that doesn’t mean the tower doesn’t offer great views. From standing atop the tower, you’ll see all of Lake Lowell and toward the arid landscape to the south, and Nampa and the rest of the Treasure Valley northward.
You can reach Big Tower by taking directions to Gott’s Point, which offers parking just south of the tower.
Shafer Butte is one of the largest mountains in the Bogus Basin area, and its lookout sits 7,582 feet above sea level. The tower was first used in 1926 and is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register.
The lookout has a unique look because it has one cab built on top of another — the second was added because additional space for radio equipment was needed, making the lookout appear more as a small cabin than an actual tower.
You can get to Shafer Butte Lookout by searching for it on maps, which will take you on a drive up Bogus Basin Road toward the Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area.
Sehewoki’l Newenee’an Katete Lookout
Recently renamed after initially being named after a derogatory term for Native American women, Sehewoki’l Newenee’an Katete Lookout is located on the similarly named butte that looks out over Emmett.
Sehewoki’l Newenee’an Katete Butte is one of the Boise Foothills’ most prominent features, and its lookout on the butte’s southern summit is still staffed every summer. The tower, which stands 5,874 feet above sea level, was built in 1933 but was destroyed by lightning in 1953. The cabin that currently sits there was built in 1981.
Although the tower is staffed throughout the summer, you can still drive up and see wide-ranging views across the Treasure Valley.
There’s only been one structure built on Hawley Mountain: the fire lookout. Hawley Mountain sits in the Boise National Forest, and its lookout is 7,301 feet above sea level. The old wooden structure is accompanied by an equally old outhouse and views of Boise County in all directions.
The lookout, built in 1935, can be reached by driving up Hawley Mountain Road until the road loops around at the lookout’s location.
Danskin Peak is a summit just 10 miles north of Mountain Home, and the lookout is the only structure built up there. The well-kept stone structure is 6,694 feet above sea level and is staffed during summer.
The drive and accompanying trails around the lookout are easy to traverse because of their location on the southern tip of the Boise National Forest. Once at the summit, views to the south offer Idaho’s lowland rolling hills and desert to the south, while heavily forested mountains sit to the north.
The lookout can be reached by searching for Danskin Peak on maps and following Canyon Creek Road up to the summit.
Staying in an Idaho fire lookout
While most of the fire lookouts are either still being used or for viewing purposes only, there are a few throughout the state that have been converted into overnight Airbnbs. Some of the most popular include the Crystal Peak Lookout in Benewah County and Surveyor’s Lookout, a 30-foot tower located in the Mallard Larkins Pioneer Area in Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
You can also find a list of all of Idaho’s still-standing fire lookout stations on the website Best Maps Ever.
