Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

Colorado Rockies

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout in Colorado Rockies — photo 4

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

Colorado Rockies

About this campsite

Overview

The Mestaa’ėhehe (pronounced mess-taw-HAY) Mountain Fire Lookout is located directly off of Colorado Highway 103 west of Bergen Park and sits at the summit of Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain, which is an active communication tower site in Clear Creek County. In addition to being an active communication site, the area is a popular dispersed recreation use area with hiking, recreational shooting, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and camping. The lookout is a unique structure constructed of native granite which is situated at over 11,000 feet elevation and was built in the 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The cab measures 14 feet by 14 feet and is completely lined by windows on each side and surrounded by a catwalk, all of which sit on top of a one story stone base.

Recreation

Hiking, wildlife viewing, scenic driving, picnicking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are all easily accessible while staying at the lookout.

Facilities

The lookout contains an electric stove, refrigerator, and heat; beds; table and chairs; cookware and dishes; and an exterior incinerating toilet. Please be aware that visitors are expected to clean and maintain the incinerating toilet to ensure proper operation of the unit. The lookout can accommodate four people per night. Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes, as well as their own sleeping bags/bedding. This is a pack it in, pack it out facility; guests will need to carry out all trash and clean the facility prior to leaving.

During the winter months, the facilities will be cold. In the lookout, there are two small wall heaters, and one space heater. However, with the weather conditions, it’s not always possible for them to keep the place consistently warm. At 11,000 feet it can also be extremely windy. Please come prepared for the extreme winter weather conditions that can happen during your stay.

Natural Features

Besides offering the unique experience of staying in a fire lookout, Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Lookout will provide visitors outstanding panoramic views of the Great Plains, Denver, Mount Blue Sky, Pikes Peak, Longs Peak and other snow-capped peaks.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (970) 295-6600.

Nearby Attractions

Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area, Mount Evans Wilderness Area

Location

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout•CO

Explore on our map Get Directions Open in Maps

Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

TODAY☁️

15° / 6°

💧 11%

WED☁️

13° / 5°

💧 31%

THU🌦️

16° / 3°

💧 31%

FRI🌦️

15° / 3°

💧 11%

SAT☁️

13° / 1°

💧 7%

Common questions about Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

Can you book Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout online?

We hold no online booking link for Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout, so it is not bookable through this page. Many parks and showgrounds still require a booking, so contact the operator before you go. Their website or phone number is the fastest way to confirm a site.

Where is Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout?

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout sits in CO. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

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ECHO LAKE

Overview Echo Lake Campground is located on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado near its namesake lake at the base of Mount Blue Sky along Hwy 103. Visitors enjoy hiking, fishing and taking scenic drives along Mount Evans Road. Recreation Activities in the area include hiking in the Mount Evans Wilderness, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing. Several trails leave directly from the campground. Facilities The campground offers 11 sites more suited to RV camping and seven sites designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Also, there are vault toilets, hand pumps with potable water and trash service. Natural Features Echo Lake sits in a spruce forest near the shores of Echo Lake. The campground's 10,600' elevation creates cool to chilly nights, even in summer, and its location on a mountain pass makes for windy conditions year-round. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland on the foothills and slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The forests and grassland cover 1.5 million acres and extend north to the Wyoming border, south to Mount Evans and west across the Continental Divide. The area encompasses mountains, lakes and five scenic byways, designated by Congress for their scenery, wildlife or history, including the highest road in North America. Mount Evans Road, also known as Colorado Highway 5, allows visitors to drive from 10,500' to 14,130' above sea level in just 14 miles. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578. Nearby Attractions Nearby Idaho Springs, a former mining town, makes for a nice outing. History buffs will appreciate the Argo Gold Mine and Mill Museum. The City and County of Denver Mountain Park, Echo Lake and Echo Lake Lodge are located adjacent to the campground. Charges & Cancellations Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the call center at 1-877-444-6777 PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.

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Denver West/Central City KOA

Campground: Denver West/Central City KOA.

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WEST CHICAGO CREEK

Overview West Chicago Creek Campground sits along its namesake creek at the base of Mount Blue Sky and is located off Highway 103 on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado. It is a popular facility for hiking and fishing enthusiasts. Recreation The area provides easy access to many hiking trails that lead into the Mount Evans Wilderness. West Chicago Creek offers good fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Facilities There are 15 sites available all suitable for RV and tent camping. Each site contains a tent pad, picnic table, charcoal grill and fire ring. Other amenities include a vault toilet, water spigot and trash dumpster. There are no RV hook-ups. Firewood is available for sale during peak season at the campground. Natural Features The campground sits at an elevation of 9,600 feet in an aspen and lodgepole pine forest. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland are located in the foothills and slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The forests and grassland cover 1.5 million acres and extend north to the Wyoming border, south to Mount Evans and west across the Continental Divide. The area encompasses mountains, lakes and five scenic byways, designated by Congress for their scenery, wildlife or history, including the highest road in North America. Mount Evans Road, also known as Colorado Highway 5, allows visitors to drive from 10,500' to 14,130' above sea level in just 14 miles. Nearby Attractions Nearby Idaho Springs, a former mining town, makes for a nice outing. History buffs will appreciate the Argo Gold Mine and Mill Museum. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578. Charges & Cancellations Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the call center at 1-877-444-6777 PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.