Many of these on the list were originally built around North Carolina to spot wildfires from afar. These lookout towers are still used today but are now popular tourist attractions for their epic views. During the autumn season, these lookout towers offer you the best seat across the states to perch yourself and observe the changing seasons.
If you are searching for some of the top fire towers and lookouts nearby, well look no further! These are the must-visit fire towers and lookouts in NC that will offer you dazzling displays of the fall season!
Wesser Bald – Lookouts Near Me
The Wesser Bald Fire Tower is a 30-foot-tall decommissioned fire watch tower in Franklin, North Carolina. This tower offers stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains, Nantahala National Forest and the Little Tennessee River Valley. There is a short trail you will have to trek to reach the base of the tower, just alongside the Appalachian Trail.
The trip to the summit spans four miles. Park at Tellico Gap and begin your hike north to access the trail. This steady climb will take you to the mountain’s summit, where you will find a 100-foot trail leading you to the Wesser Bald Fire Tower.
Wayah Bald Lookout Tower
The Wayah Bald lookout tower offers stunning views of the Nantahala National Forest and the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. The observation deck will take you to an elevation of 5,342 ft. The tower is located around 1 hour and 20 minutes from southwest Bryson City. You can drive up to the fire lookout tower or hike through the Appalachian Trail.
To reach the Wayah Bald fire lookout minaret via road, drive 3 miles west on US-64. Take a right onto Old Murphy Road (you will spot a Wayah Bald sign here), followed by a left onto Wayah Road. An 11-mile drive from here will take you to the tower.
Rich Mountain
The Rich Mountain Fire Tower is an abandoned fire tower open 24 hours a day near Hot Springs, North Carolina. The tower will offer you stunning views of the North Carolina and Tennessee state lines and the Pisgah National Forest at an elevation of 3,643 feet.
You can reach the mountain by driving or by hiking. If you want to enjoy fall colors further, we recommend taking the 5.9-mile hike from Hot Springs to Tanyard Gap. From here, you should follow the white-blazed Appalachian Trail to get to your destination.
Flat Top Lookout Tower – Lookouts Near Me You Have To See
The Flat Rop is a historic lookout tower located at the summit of Flat Top Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone and Blowing Rock. The Flat Top lookout tower offers beautiful 360-degree views of the land and the towns situated inside the mountain valleys.
To reach the Flat Top lookout tower, take the 2.5-mile Flat Top road trail, considered one of the best hikes at the Moses Cone Memorial Park. The hike is moderately easy and will take you to the 4,558-foot-tall summit of the Flat Top Mountains.
Shuckstack
The Shuckstack Fire Tower is 60 ft long and was originally built in 1934. The tower is open for visitations and is a popular site during the fall seasons. Note: to reach the top, you will have to climb all 78 stairs. Plus, the tower moves ever so slightly, but no need to be alarmed. The tower is built this way to withstand continuous winds blowing across the ridge.
The quickest way to reach the fire lookout tower is to start at the Fontana Dam and take a 3.5-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. The hike is challenging; you can expect to cross an elevation of over 2,000 ft but the final views are well worth it!
Frying Pan Mountain Lookout Tower
The Frying Pan Mountain Lookout Tower is one of the tallest fire towers in Western North Carolina, located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville in North Carolina. Although the uppermost sections of the tower are locked, you can climb around five flights of stairs to reach a considerable height. From there, you will be able to enjoy stunning views of Looking Glass Rock.
To reach the fire tower, you will have to take a 22-mile drive from Asheville to Milepost 409.6, park at Forest Service Road 450 and take a short hike to the summit.
Green Knob Lookout Tower – Lookouts Near Me
The Green Knob Lookout Tower is a half-mile hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Set upon the 5080-foot Green Knob Mountain, this fire tower dates back to 1931. The top provides grand views of the rugged Black Mountain range, including the highest mountain peak in the East United States.
To reach the tower, park at the Green Knob Overlook at milepost 350.4. From the overlook, you must follow a ½ mile white-blazed trail to the tower.
Yellow Mountain
If you want to enjoy an active day out in the chilly fall weather, hike the Yellow Mountain Trail. This twelve-mile round-trip trail is considered one of the most difficult trails to traverse in Western North Carolina. The trail’s end will take you to the historic Yellow Mountain fire lookout tower.
The view from the fire lookout minaret is well worth the hike, offering panoramic sights of the surrounding Nantahala National Forest.
Mt Sterling
Head to the 5,842 ft Mt Sterling housed within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where you can mount the 60 ft steel fire lookout tower. Originally built in 1935, the tower reaches the highest elevation for any tower in the eastern USA.
To reach the tower, follow a 2.7-mile hike from the Sterling Gap that will take you to the tower’s base. Climb to the top to witness jaw-dropping views of the Cataloochee Valley, the Pigeon River Gorge, the Unaka Mountains, the Smokies, the Black Mountains and the end of the Southern Appalachians.
Mt Cammerer
The Mt Cammerer fire lookout tower is one of the top destinations in the Smoky Mountains that you can reach by hiking. Be warned, this trail may be short but is by no means for the faint of heart. The Mount Cammerer trail, starting in Greenbrier and Cosby, will take you 11.1 miles but rises to an elevation of 3,045 ft!
The hike may be strenuous but the final rewards for your efforts lie at the top of the old lookout building. You will be able to view fall’s colorful beauty as it passes over the rolling peaks of the Smoky Mountains.
Albert Mountain Fire Tower
The Albert Mountain Fire Tower is another popular lookout tower located along the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. The section of the Appalachian Trail near Franklin stretches for 4 miles and will take you to the base of the fire lookout tower.
The former quarters of the top level are usually locked, but the lower landings of the tower remain open. These landings are sufficient enough to offer you beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Fire Tower Final Thoughts
All these fire towers we have listed will provide you with views of the best fall colors across North Carolina. You will appreciate the change in perspective they offer! This fall season, don’t miss out! Set out to these tower lookouts and you will be rewarded with the season’s colorful display.
