The Long Way
Montezuma County
A view from the balcony of a fire lookout tower at sunset.
Plate I. View from Jersey Jim Lookout. From fs.usda.gov
A tall wooden fire lookout tower stands in a clearing surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.
Plate II. Jersey Jim Lookout tower in meadow. From fs.usda.gov
A scenic view of a lush green forest with snow-capped mountains in the background under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Plate III. Mountain view from Jersey Jim Lookout. From fs.usda.gov
A scenic landscape view of a green valley surrounded by tall trees and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
Plate IV. View from Jersey Jim Lookout. From fs.usda.gov
A tall wooden fire lookout tower stands under a bright sun and blue sky.
Plate V. Fire tower, Jersey Jim Lookout. From recreation.gov
A tall wooden lookout tower stands against a clear blue sky.
Plate VI. Jersey Jim Fire Lookout tower. From recreation.gov
Interior view of a fire lookout tower with a fire finder and a sunset visible through the windows.
Plate VII. Interior view with firefinder, Jersey Jim Lookout. From recreation.gov

Jersey Jim Lookout

Mancos, Montezuma County, Colorado. Fire lookout tower; Mid-May to Mid-October.

Details

Map. Mancos, Montezuma County, Colorado. Larger map
Where
Mancos, Montezuma County, CO. No street address stated. Directions
Getting there
From Mancos, the renovated tower is located 14 miles north of Mancos on Forest Road #561, a well-graveled forest road accessible by two-wheel-drive vehicles. Travelers should watch for livestock and wildlife and keep speeds under 30 miles per hour.
Fees
$50 per night.
Access
The Tower cab includes the original furniture and propane heating and lighting. However, there is no electricity or running water. A sink, propane refrigerator, and oven/stove are in the kitchen area. Guests must bring their own supplies. The dining table seats four, and there’s a double bed, and dresser. With windows all round, views are 360 degrees. Potable water is not available at this site.
Walk-in or reserve
Starting April 30th, 2026, visit Recreation.gov to book your one to two night stay at the tower. Maximum stay is 2 nights.
Phone
(970) 882-7296
Managed by
San Juan National Forest.
Established
1991.
Coordinates
37.497336, -108.18392.

Live a little bit of history and enjoy an incredible view in Southwestern Colorado with an one- or two-night stay at the Jersey Jim Fire Lookout Tower. Formerly used to detect fires, the live-in tower rises from an aspen-lined meadow in the San Juan National Forest at almost 10,000 feet above sea level.

Notable Events

  1. 1940sThe tower was home to U.S. Forest Service fire lookouts from the 1940s to 1970s; historic log books chronicle their experiences. fs.usda.gov
  2. 1964The original tower, constructed of local spruce, was replaced with a 55' treated timber tower with a large 15'X15' live-in cab in 1964. web.archive.org
  3. 1991The tower was renovated and saved from demolition in 1991 by the Jersey Jim Foundation, a nonprofit local volunteer organization, which operates and maintains the tower under permit with the San Juan National Forest. the-journal.com
  4. 1993Jersey Jim Lookout was registered on the National Historic Lookout Register on March 11, 1993, with registry numbers US 57, CO 3. web.archive.org

People

  • Lloyd McNeil, nominated Jersey Jim Lookout to the National Historic Lookout Register; U.S. Forest Service, Mancos, CO.

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10388459
  2. fs.usda.gov/r02/sanjuan/recreation/jersey-jim-lookout
  3. the-journal.com/experience-the-high-life-at-jersey-jim
  4. web.archive.org/web/20240723205144/http://nhlr.org/lookouts/us/co/jersey-jim-lookout