Calpine Hill Lookout
US 595, CA 66

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 595, CA 66 (view other lookouts in United States, California)
Date Registered September 21, 2004
Nominated by Kathy Allison
Location Tahoe National Forest
Sierra County, California
Coordinates N 39° 40.730' W 120° 27.799' (view using Google Maps)
N 39° 40' 44" W 120° 27' 48"
N 39.678840° W 120.463310°
Elevation 5,836 ft (1,779 m)
Built 1934
Administered by U.S. Forest Service
Cooperators Sierraville Ranger District
Available for Rental Yes, learn more

Description

A beautifully restored classic California design, Calpine Hill Lookout is an example of a Tahoe National Forest ranger district seeking partnerships to keep important lookouts. Built in 1934 by the CCC, it is a C-3 14’x14’ wooden cab with catwalk on an enclosed 17’ tower. Living quarters are on the first landing.

Map

Change Basemap

Visit Reports

October 26, 2007: J. Carr

Condition
Needs paint? Yes
Shutters OK? Yes
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? Yes
Good condition? Yes
Comments: Look out in excellent condition.

Electronics and Enroachments
Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? No
Comments: Grat Lookout, all of the propane appliances work. The lookout is in excellent condition. Few hikers came through, but otherwise we were all by ourself's. Ranger Station in Sierraville very responsive and helpful. The place was a real joy to stay at. great Sunrise's, Sunset's, Moonrise's and Moonset's. Highly recommend!

Access and Signs
NHLR sign posted? No
Directions to tower signed? Yes
Comments? Road is real driveable and in good condition. Well marked for both driving and winter access.

Staffing
Staffed? Sometimes
May be staffed durring time of high lighting activity and high fire danger. This is perthe ranger station.

Opportunities for Volunteer Support
Volunteers staffing opportunities? No Response
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? No Response
Whis there was a way to volunteer to help with maintance.

August 1, 2005: Alvin Urie

Condition
Needs paint? Yes
Shutters OK? Yes
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? Yes
Good condition? Yes
Comments: Needs to have the screens replaced and windows repaired for more ventilation.

Electronics and Enroachments
Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? No

Access and Signs
NHLR sign posted? No
Directions to tower signed? No

Staffing
Staffed? No

Opportunities for Volunteer Support
Volunteers staffing opportunities? No Response
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? No Response

Other Comments
Comments How secure are these towers? On July 16th, 2005, at about 40 minutes after midnight, three people, two men and a woman, came up to the tower to roust us out and to have fun. Not knowing what fun they were going to have, and after asking them to leave three times I fired a shot with my rifle into the air to give them a warning not to come any closer and to leave. Two of them got back into their vehicle. The driver yelled at me and then got into his mountain style vehicle and rammed my SUV. We have sinced learned that our vehicle has been totalled. This shook up both myself and my wife and we were afraid to go to sleep the remainder of the night. Once light, we walked out to Calpine, 2.8 miles, to call the sheriff. There is a police report and an investigation. My question is, what is the liability of the Forest Service and what are they doing to provide a safe and secure environment? Should people be told up front that they need to have a weapon to protect themselves ? We were given a combination to a gate which implied that we were safe, if we closed and locked the gate each and everytime going through it. However, these people apparently entered through an old logging road that met up with the main road to the lookout, after the locked gate. The Forest Service had not secured this road and had not notified us there was another road to the lookout. How safe are the other lookouts around the country? We believe the Forest Service should have some responsibility in providing a safe and secure environment when renting out these Lookout towers.