The current MC-39 steel tower was built in 1933 by a Civilian Conservation Corps camp who spent several months in the Asotin District. The tower is 90′ tall according to a Umatilla National Forest Inventory, 94′ tall according to Ray Kresek, and 82′ tall according to other sources. No matter the exact height, it’s a darn cool steel tower!

The single story cabin at the base of the lookout was built two years later in 1935, also by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the cabin is available for nighly rentals through the Umatilla National Forest.

In August of 2021, the Clearwater Lookout, thanks to its height, was used as a temporary repeater site on the Lick Creek (Dry Gulch) fire in southeast Washington. The tower remains available for emergencies.

Aermotor steel towers were built by the Aermotor Company of Chicago, IL, founded in 1888. In the 1920s, a few steel towers started showing up in the Pacific Northwest and in the 1930s, several more were built predominantly east of the Cascades.