There is no room with a view that can top a fire lookout tower. We have quite a few of them around Oregon available for rent through the Forest Service that I have enjoyed over the years, but I had never visited one in another state. When we started planning our trip down to Yosemite, we found one in California that seemed like a good stopping point for the drive back. I had never really explored the Mt. Shasta area at all, and this seemed like a good introduction. My Mountain Man found one not far off of I5 near Shasta and the Castle Crags, and booked it for our adventure. This was shaping up to be an epic family vacation.
After all our fun in Yosemite backpacking and camping, it was nice knowing we had these accommodations waiting for us down the road. By this point in our trip had been on the road for some long days, and the lookout being only 7.5 miles off the freeway was a huge convenience. I will note that it was a steep 7.5 miles, but nothing unusual for a forest service road up to a lookout tower. We arrived at sunset, ready to be out of the car and cooking some dinner (this was definitely the recurring theme of our trip) and were immediately blown away by the amazing views of the Castle Crags and Mt. Shasta.
This was a more basic lookout with no cooking amenities or lights, but we happily sat out on the picnic table while the stars came out, and enjoyed beans and rice bowls made
with a combo of leftover dehydrated goods and some fresh groceries we had picked up along our drive at the
Sacramento Food Co-op. It’s always fun to visit other co-ops when you’re traveling through, and fresh guacamole will change your life
after a couple days of backpacking meals. Seriously.
with a combo of leftover dehydrated goods and some fresh groceries we had picked up along our drive at the
Sacramento Food Co-op. It’s always fun to visit other co-ops when you’re traveling through, and fresh guacamole will change your life
after a couple days of backpacking meals. Seriously.
We woke up in the morning to Mt. Shasta turning pink and purple with the sunrise.
Really what it comes down to as far as these lookout towers go, is going to sleep and waking up to these views.
I could say more, but I think the views speak for themselves.
Here is a little bit of info on this fire lookout tower:
The link above with directions say that after crossing the RR tracks and the river to turn right onto Riverside. But Google Maps indicates that the traveler should turn left to get to Girard ridge rd. and onward to the tower. Turning right leads south to nowhere.
Can you clarify?
Thanks
I definitely remember turning right after we crossed the river if that is helpful at all.