Mills Peak Lookout
US 602, CA 73
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 602, CA 73 (view other lookouts in United States, California) |
| Date Registered | September 21, 2004 |
| Nominated by | Kathy Allison |
| Location |
Plumas National Forest Sierra County, California |
| Coordinates |
N 39° 42.290' W 120° 37.373' (view using Google Maps) N 39° 42' 17" W 120° 37' 22" N 39.704830° W 120.622880° |
| Elevation | 7,342 ft (2,238 m) |
| Built | 1933 |
| Administered by | U.S. Forest Service |
| Cooperators | Beckwourth Ranger District |
Description
Located on the Beckwourth Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest, the first Mills Peak Lookout was an L-4 ground house (unusual for California) constructed in 1933. Mills Peak LO was recently restored and reactivated for fire detection in 2005.
Map
Change Basemap
Visit Reports
October 16, 2009: Jack Piccinini
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No Response |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | this is a Staffed lookout and is in good condition |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Comments: | Nice lookout with great views to the North, East and into the Graeagle Valley, Protola, Sierraville Valley and the Gold Lake. Views to the West and south somewhat limited by mountain ranges. |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | They don’t get any easier to get to! Off of Hwy 49 at Bassetts or off of Hwy 89 near Graegle is the Gold Lake Hwy. This is an easy, smooth, paved road. About 10 miles from either end brings you to the Mills Peak Road. Then, just 3 miles of good condition dirt/gravel road to the tower. Nothing steep and the entire route can be done by a car. The site has high visitor volume as there are very accessible mountain resorts and recreational lakes in the area. That coupled with the ease of getting to the tower makes it a popular visitor destination. (Until it snows) |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? |
Yes
The tower had just been shut down for the winter the week before this visit.
|
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | No Response |