Colorado · Camping · Near Idaho Springs

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

1
sites
Jun, Sep
best months

Is Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

  • 1 siteReservable on Recreation.gov
  • At 11,451 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
  • Near Idaho SpringsClear Creek Ranger District · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests

The Mestaa’ėhehe (pronounced mess-taw-HAY) Mountain Fire Lookout is located directly off of Colorado Highway 103 west of Bergen Park and sits at the summit of Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain, which is an active communication tower site in Clear Creek County. In addition to being an active communication site, the area is a popular dispersed recreation use area with hiking, recreational shooting, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and camping. The lookout is a unique structure constructed of native granite which is situated at over 11,000 feet elevation and was built in the 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The cab measures 14 feet by 14 feet and is completely lined by windows on each side and surrounded by a catwalk, all of which sit on top of a one story stone base.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

    Campground

    The next 7 weekends are full on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Brother's Grille

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains25or6to4, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hiwan Homestead Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 9.4 mi from Idaho Springs

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

    Best months: June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      32° / 12°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      31° / 11°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 17°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      43° / 23°

      10 wet

    5. May

      53° / 31°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      64° / 40°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 46°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      67° / 44°

      14 wet

    9. Sep

      61° / 38°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      50° / 29°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 19°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      32° / 12°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cabin Creek, CO, 11.6 mi away at 10,020 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

1 site

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