OutReserve

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

Mestaa’Ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout view from upper cab
Fire Lookout Tower 4
Mestaa’Ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout
Fire Lookout Tower
Visitor

Featured amenities

Kitchen

About Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

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.

Number of accommodations: 1

Nearby Activities & Attractions

Hiking

Shooting

Skiing

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 1 to Oct 31

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Kitchen

Cabin Interior

  • Kitchen
  • Heating

Views and Setting

  • View
Missing information?

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

Price not available
⛺ Tent Unavailable

Site Details

Up to 4 guests
Surface: Gravel
Driveway entry: Parallel
View Site Details

Reviews (156)

What Guests Are Saying

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout offers a unique and magical experience with breathtaking views and well-equipped kitchen amenities, making it feel more like a hotel than traditional camping. Guests appreciate the cleanliness and upkeep by previous visitors, along with comfortable sleeping arrangements and thoughtful touches. While some visitors noted issues with other hikers not respecting reservations and the potential for wind disturbances, overall, the positive experiences and stunning surroundings make it a highly recommended destination.

Review Summary

4.5
156 reviews
5
76.9%
120
4
10.3%
16
3
6.4%
10
2
2.6%
4
1
3.8%
6

Ashley L

Verified

February 28, 2025 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

3

I've been lucky enough to go to the fire tower 2 years in a row and it's always wonderful. This year there were a few changes: no pillows, no wool blankets, and **no additional space heaters**. It was a cold night with no less than 9 storms that blew through the entire night (kind of a vibe but also freezing). Highly recommend bringing up a space heater you don't mind leaving behind as a donation (we would have had we known).

Ashley L

Verified

February 28, 2025 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

3

I've been lucky enough to go to the fire tower 2 years in a row and it's always wonderful. This year there were a few changes: no pillows, no wool blankets, and **no additional space heaters**. It was a cold night with no less than 9 storms that blew through the entire night (kind of a vibe but also freezing). Highly recommend bringing up a space heater you don't mind leaving behind as a donation (we would have had we known).

Kenneth S

Verified

January 27, 2025 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

5

Great place to stay! Awesome views. The heaters were enough to keep the upstairs just above freezing on a below 0 night

Kenneth S

Verified

January 27, 2025 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

5

Great place to stay! Awesome views. The heaters were enough to keep the upstairs just above freezing on a below 0 night

Lauren D

Verified

December 9, 2024 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

5

Incredible opportunity to spend the day and evening surrounded by nature. Huge thanks for the beautiful opportunity of a lifetime to stay in the fire lookout. Directions in reservation were clear and easy to follow. Huge thank you

Lauren D

Verified

December 9, 2024 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

5

Incredible opportunity to spend the day and evening surrounded by nature. Huge thanks for the beautiful opportunity of a lifetime to stay in the fire lookout. Directions in reservation were clear and easy to follow. Huge thank you

Steven K

Verified

December 2, 2024 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

5

This was an absolutely amazing experience, the panoramic views are breathtaking! We got lucky in that the weather kept some foot traffic at bay, however, there were still a good number of visitors. This is possibly the only drawback, the lookout does attract many hikers. All of the one's that visited during our stay were respectful and did not come into our space.

Steven K

Verified

December 2, 2024 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

5

This was an absolutely amazing experience, the panoramic views are breathtaking! We got lucky in that the weather kept some foot traffic at bay, however, there were still a good number of visitors. This is possibly the only drawback, the lookout does attract many hikers. All of the one's that visited during our stay were respectful and did not come into our space.

Hans W

Verified

November 30, 2024 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

4

Beautiful views, working heaters, dirty sheets, no more extra blankets, people just walk onto the balcony without asking

Hans W

Verified

November 30, 2024 Stayed at: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO, Loop: Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire LO

4

Beautiful views, working heaters, dirty sheets, no more extra blankets, people just walk onto the balcony without asking

Location Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

Address:
Po Box 3307
Idaho Springs, CO, 80452
United States

Highway access

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout is accessible via Interstate 70, with Exit 240 leading to Colorado Highway 103, which is approximately 19 miles south from the exit.

Latitude & Longitude: 39.6789 / -105.493

Elevation: 3491 feet

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: June 5, 2026

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Managed by USDA Forest Service