Entry No. 18 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: historic
Deadman Fire Lookout Tower
Built by Civilian Conservation Corps crews in 1937–38 and replaced with the current 55-foot steel tower in 1961, Deadman Lookout stands at 10,710 feet in Roosevelt National Forest above the Laramie River Valley. On clear days the observation cab — still fitted with an original Osborn firefinder, a circular sighting device manufactured before 1975 — delivers panoramic views stretching 110 miles into Wyoming. Volunteer hosts staff the tower on a summer schedule, walking visitors through the history of fire detection and the women like Bernice George who spotted blazes here during the 1940s. The original CCC wooden-tower footings are still visible on a short walk east of the current structure.
The story
Perched at 10,710 feet in the Roosevelt National Forest above the Laramie River Valley, Deadman Lookout isn't just a scenic vantage point—it's a working relic of early-warning wildfire defense. Civilian Conservation Corps crews built the original timber structure on this summit between 1937 and 1938. In 1961, the Forest Service replaced the wooden rig with the current 55-foot steel tower, but the core mission remained unchanged: spot smoke before a spark turns into an uncontained crown fire. On a clear day, the glass cab gives you line-of-sight views stretching 110 miles across the state line into Wyoming.
During World War II, when male forest personnel were drafted, women like Bernice George stepped into the high cab to run solitary shifts scanning the timberline. Inside the observation cab sits an original, pre-1975 Osborn firefinder—a heavy circular sighting table mounted with maps and sights that allows lookout hosts to calculate a smoke column's exact compass azimuth. If you want a tangible trace of the early CCC era, take the short trail walking east into the trees; the original 1930s concrete footings from the first wooden tower are still bedded in the rock.
What it's like
Reaching the summit means rattling down 12 miles of washboard gravel along Deadman Road from Red Feather Lakes village, then heading two miles north on Forest Road 170. Standard passenger cars can handle the grade if you drive slow and pick your way around the ruts. At the base, you'll climb 54 open steel steps to reach the glass cab where volunteer staff demonstrate how the firefinder works. Keep an eye on the sky: 10,000-foot peaks pull in sudden afternoon lightning storms, and when lightning strikes, the tower is evacuated immediately. Bring your own drinking water, use the vault toilets at the base, and aim for a mid-morning visit on a Thursday or Friday to miss the weekend traffic.
The move: Drive the scenic gravel road together, climb 54 steps to the glass-enclosed cab, and take turns using the Osborn firefinder to locate distant peaks across two states. Arrive mid-morning on a Thursday or Friday to beat weekend crowds; bring a picnic for the tables below and plan around afternoon lightning.
📍 Before you go Open July through Labor Day (volunteers staffed Thursday–Monday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.); snow can delay opening past July 4. No potable water on-site; bring your own. Vault toilets available. Free to visit; donations accepted. Passenger cars can manage the gravel road but go slowly. Clear out before afternoon thunderstorms — visitors must leave the tower during lightning. Dogs allowed on leash. No overnight stays.
- 📍 Red Feather Lakes
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Forest Road 170, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545 (Roosevelt National Forest, approx. 12 miles west of Red Feather Lakes village on County Road 86/Deadman Road, then 2 miles north on FR 170)
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Gnome Road (Elf Lane) — Pair a high-elevation forest fire watch post with a bizarre, low-lying dirt lane where local residents deposit hundreds of miniature figurines.
- Manhattan Ghost Town & Cemetery — Combine the fire tower's 110-mile vistas with a walk through the overgrown remains of an 1880s gold rush town hidden along nearby mountain roads.
- Great Stupa of Dharmakaya — Follow up a trip to a 1960s steel lookout tower at 10,700 feet with a visit to North America's tallest Buddhist stupa tucked quietly in the same valley.
Good to know
When is Deadman Fire Lookout Tower open to the public?
The tower is open seasonally from July through Labor Day, with volunteer hosts staffing the cab Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Heavy snowpack on Forest Road 170 can push opening day past July 4th.
Do you need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get there?
No. The 14 miles of unpaved access roads (Deadman Road and FR 170) are suitable for standard passenger cars, though the drive is slow and dusty with occasional ruts.
Is there a fee to visit, or can you stay overnight?
Visiting the tower is completely free, though staff accept voluntary donations. Deadman Lookout does not offer overnight cabin rentals.
Are amenities or water available at the site?
There is no potable water on-site, so you must bring your own. Vault toilets and picnic tables are located near the parking area at the base.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: fs.usda.gov · northfortynews.com · Tripadvisor · nhlr.org · database.history.fcgov.com
last checked: 2026-06-11