Devil's Head Lookout Explained

Devil's Head Lookout Hike & Tower
Nrhp Type:nrhp
Designated Other1:Colorado
Designated Other1 Number:5DA.960
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:Douglas County, Colorado
Coordinates:39.2604°N -105.1018°W
Built:(original built) 1912, (remodeled)1951
Added:June 13, 2003
Refnum:03000518

Devil's Head Lookout is a U.S. Forest Service fire lookout tower at the summit of Devils Head in Douglas County, Colorado. Located on a large pinnacle of Pikes Peak granite, the fire lookout point lies within the Pike National Forest and is accessed by hiking the Devils Head National Recreation Trail.

The station was first established in 1912, with the original tower built in 1919. In the summer of 1951, the old tower was dismantled and current structure was built. In 1991, Devil's Head Lookout was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Sitting at the highest point of Rampart Range, the fire lookout is the last remaining such structure to be in service along the Front Range of Colorado.[1]

The view from the current structure extends at least 100 miles in every direction on clear days.[2]

The lookout (elev. 9748 feet, or 2971 m) can be accessed via easy/moderate trail (2.8 miles, or 4.5 km round trip) with elevation gain of 951 feet, or 290 m. The last stretch is a climb on 143 stairs. The access is from Rampart Range Road, a 14.5-km dirt road (easily accessible by passenger cars) from CO67. Note that the road to the trailhead is always closed to vehicles during the winter and typically does not open until April or May.

See also

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc/about-forest/?cid=fsm9_032711 USDA Forest Service, Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands - History and Facts
  2. http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/spl/devils_head.shtml USDA Forest Service, Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands - About Us