Green Mountain Lookout

Green Mountain Lookout is a fire watchtower in Glacier Peak Wilderness at 6,398 feet elevation, featuring a 14-by-14-foot tower with an exterior catwalk and cable anchor system built to withstand mountain winds. The structure follows Forest Service standard designs used across high-elevation sites in the region.

The tower was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps using a Forest Service standard design to monitor forest fires in the North Cascades region. The project was part of a broader effort to systematically protect regional forests from fire.

The tower represents early 20th-century forest management approaches in the Pacific Northwest and reflects the engineering methods used to protect woodlands. Its design and construction show how communities approached fire prevention across mountain regions during that era.

Visitors reach the tower via hiking trails through Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, and should prepare for changing weather and steep terrain. Good footwear and layers are essential since the high elevation and exposed location mean weather can shift quickly.

Congress passed the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act in 2014 specifically to prevent removal of the tower following legal challenges. This unusual step shows the structure holds particular importance in American conservation history.

Location: Snohomish County

Inception: 1933

GPS coordinates: 48.29155,-121.23873

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:45