Branch Mountain Lookout
US 1392, CA 215
Branch Mountain Lookout - 2012

Branch Mountain Lookout - 2012 - courtesy of Bob Burd

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 1392, CA 215 (view other lookouts in United States, California)
Date Registered November 30, 2019
Nominated by Brad Eells
Location Los Padres National Forest
San Luis Obispo County, California
Coordinates N 35° 11.115' W 120° 05.099' (view using Google Maps)
N 35° 11' 07" W 120° 05' 06"
N 35.185246° W 120.084990°
Elevation 3,768 ft (1,148 m)
Built 1935
Administered by US Forest Service - Los Padres National Forest
Cooperators Buckhorn Ranch

Description

Branch Mountain Lookout was built in 1935. The structure is a California Region 5 Plan BC-301 on a 30 foot K-Brace open steel tower.

Branch Mountain was last staffed in 1992 according to it's logbook entries. The small ground cabin is noted in Thornton's 1986 Survey as a WWII Aircraft Warning Service built structure. 

The lookout site is completely surrounded by private property and is not accessible to the public. Be sure to read Bob Burd's interesting Trip Report on the 'Links' tab.

Map

Change Basemap

Photos

WWII Aircraft Warning Service Residence Cabin

WWII Aircraft Warning Service Residence Cabin - courtesy of Bob Burd

Outhouse

Outhouse - courtesy of Bob Burd

Cabin Interior

Cabin Interior - courtesy of Bob Burd

Photo courtesy of Bob Burd

Logbook - Last entry is 1992

Logbook - Last entry is 1992 - courtesy of Bob Burd

Tower base

Tower base - courtesy of Bob Burd

Stairway from the catwalk

Stairway from the catwalk - courtesy of Bob Burd

Photo courtesy of Bob Burd

Photo courtesy of Google Earth

Photo courtesy of USFS - Craig R. Carey Collection

Under construction - Circa 1935

Under construction - Circa 1935 - courtesy of USFS - Craig R. Carey Collection