Figueroa Mountain Lookout
US 881, CA 91
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 881, CA 91 (view other lookouts in United States, California) |
| Date Registered | June 19, 2010 |
| Nominated by | Brad Eells |
| Location |
Los Padres National Forest Santa Barbara County, California |
| Coordinates |
N 34° 44.621' W 119° 59.083' (view using Google Maps) N 34° 44' 37" W 119° 59' 05" N 34.743680° W 119.984720° |
| Elevation | 4,480 ft (1,366 m) |
| Built | 1965 |
| Administered by | U.S. Forest Service |
| Cooperators | Santa Lucia Ranger District |
Description
The first lookout on Figueroa Lookout on the Los Padres National Forest was a C3 14'x14' cab on a timber tower. It was replaced in 1965 with a 13'x13' CL-100 metal cab on a 12' concrete block base.
Map
Change Basemap
Photos
Current Tower
CL-30 cab
September 1960
September 1937
Visit Reports
November 11, 2020: Scott McClintock
Condition |
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| Needs paint? | Yes |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Not Applicable |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | No |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | Steel cab mounted on a cinder block base ; each very durable and in very good condition. Although the aluminum shutters are in very good shape, vandals have broken all of the windows and destroyed all cab furnishings. Ceiling paint peeling. The USFS has cleared out the debris from the cab interior and secured the door with a chain. Moderate amount of rodent droppings in the cab.<br/><br/>Good cellphone connectivity at this location. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
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| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Comments: | Unusual lack of outside comms gear. |
| Other enroachments? | Visibility from the cab is 60% blocked by approx. 50 mature and middle-aged pines. |
Access and Signs |
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| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | 2-1/2 mile dirt/rock approach road behind locked gate, in very good condition. |
Staffing |
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| Staffed? |
No
Unstaffed since its closure, presumably in the 70s.
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Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
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| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | Yes |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? |
Yes
I will correspond with the Los Padres National Forest regarding an FFLA activation at this site. There is good potential access to willing volunteers in the area. Largest obstacles are tree cutting and replacing the cab window glass.
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Photos |
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