Cowee Bald Lookout
US 71, NC 3
September 2020 photo
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 71, NC 3 (view other lookouts in United States, North Carolina) |
| Date Registered | December 30, 1993 |
| Nominated by | Joe Nicholson, Wayah R.D. |
| Location |
Nantahala National Forest Jackson County, North Carolina |
| Coordinates |
N 35° 19.584' W 083° 20.093' (view using Google Maps) N 35° 19' 35" W 083° 20' 06" N 35.326405° W 083.334877° |
| Elevation | 4,892 ft (1,491 m) |
| Administered by | U.S. Forest Service |
| Cooperators | Wayah Ranger District |
Description
Also located within the Nantahala National Forest is Cowee Bald Lookout, whose view includes much of the southern flank of the Great Smoky Mountains. Built in 1936, the 40’ steel tower with 14x14’ live-in cab with catwalk, was rebuilt in 1980. Although not staffed on a regular basis since the 1960s, the lookout is used jointly by the NC Forest Service and the U.S. Forest Service on an emergency basis.
Map
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Visit Reports
September 4, 2020: Christopher Armenti
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | The tower was in excellent condition as was the access road. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Comments: | There are cell towers but they are a good distance away and only infringe on the view in one direction. In the attached picture, the side of the tower in the photo, is the one facing the cell towers. |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | No |
| Comments? | I didn't notice any signage on this tower and I didn't go to the far side of the building to see if it was marked for RF or high voltage |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? | No |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | No |