Originally constructed in 1960, Horse Ridge Lookout was moved to its present location in 1986 by a National Guard Helicopter. The CL 160 cab with catwalk on a 19’ tower is on the boundary of the Six Rivers National Forest and the Shasta-Trinity and is in active service.

Additional information courtesy of Peggy Phillips, Lookout: "...these pictures were taken in the same spot 40 years apart. Quite a change. The older tower looks taller and I was told by an old timer that he snow shoed out from the cat walk! That is a lot of snow! This tower is 19' to the bottom of the cat walk. The tower is at 6070' on Southfork Mountain, noted for being the longest continous mountain in the US. East side Is Shasta-Trinity, west is Six Rivers NF. The tower is at the highest point on Southfork Mountain and at the southern end. The lookout got its name from one of the ridges that goes down into the Mad River drainage…Horse Ridge. I was told by a local resident that their father had been on Horse Ridge and actually saw Mt Lassen to the east blow the last time it blew! What a sight that must have been. I can't remember the year but it was in the teens of the 1900's. The present tower was taken from Eight Mile at the northern end of the Mad River Distric … It was said that they almost lost it a time or two but I can attest to the fact that they installed it! I've been working in it for 6 seasons! The tower can be seen from the Mad River drainage area when the sun is in the west. It has metal covers over the windows so it glows and is a sight to see!"