Udell Lookout Tower, Fire lookout tower in Manistee County, United States.

Udell Lookout Tower is a 100-foot prefabricated steel frame tower on Forest Road 5207 near Wellston, Michigan, in the Manistee section of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. It is built from galvanized steel angles bolted together and stands atop a hill on four reinforced concrete pedestals. An enclosed hipped-roof observation cab of galvanized sheet steel, with a wooden floor and windows on all sides, tops the tower, and a small prefabricated metal building sits at one corner.

Built in 1936 as part of a fire control plan, the tower remained in use until the 1960s when aerial surveillance methods became the preferred way to monitor forests. This shift marked the end of an era of ground-based observation posts.

The tower represents early forest protection methods in Michigan, showing how communities relied on observation points to monitor and respond to dangers. Visitors can see how such posts once functioned and the role they played in keeping forests safe from harm.

The tower stands on Forest Road 5207 in the Manistee section of the Huron-Manistee National Forests, near Wellston, Michigan. It is reached by car and a short walk from the parking area. The tower is not staffed and there are no restroom facilities on site.

The observation cab is made from galvanized sheet steel, a practical choice for withstanding decades of exposure to weather and elements without rusting badly. This sturdy construction helped it survive long after it stopped being used.