Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

Wonderful place. The fire tower was clean, warm, and well furnished. Excellent 360 views.

The good : Location is truly stunning and historic. The turn off is just past the entrance to Echo ski area, on other side of road.

The bad : Downstairs has mice and smelled a bit funky. Upstairs had no power due to someone tripping the breaker (flashlights were provided but don't rely on that). Incinerator toilet is idiosyncratic, takes getting used to. The path to the toilet could be slippery in winter. The toilet uses a sort of paper bag arrangement, and partially burnt pieces of paper were all over the floor of the toilet, which was becoming a mouse nest as a result. Try to get the "paper bag" to drop all the way down in toilet when you "flush" with the pedal before incinerating. If you do that, it's quite effective. There was a broom specifically for the toilet, but nobody had used it recently. Bunks creak loudly every time someone rolls over. Tourists turn up and want a look inside. There is a shooting range not too far away. Road in is more suited to four wheel drive, although going slow in a two wheel drive works. Only water is what you carry in (or snow in winter).

Other : Verizon cellphone coverage came and went.

Overall : If you're OK with the outdoors being, well, the outdoors, this is an excellent trip. I did some cleaning and even though cloud limited the view, I loved it. I'd suggest limiting group size to two and staying upstairs. Consider taking an extra trash bag or two and going out of the way to clean and pack out trash. Keep food sealed and hung up due to mice. Better instructions on how things work might help. Also consider visiting mid week to keep tourism and shooting range activity down.

It really could be fantastic. It's in danger of being loved to death.

Also consider visiting nearby historic Arapaho Springs, built as a campground 1937.

The good : Location is truly stunning and historic. The turn off is just past the entrance to Echo ski area, on other side of road.

The bad : Downstairs has mice and smelled a bit funky. Upstairs had no power due to someone tripping the breaker (flashlights were provided but don't rely on that). Incinerator toilet is idiosyncratic, takes getting used to. The path to the toilet could be slippery in winter. The toilet uses a sort of paper bag arrangement, and partially burnt pieces of paper were all over the floor of the toilet, which was becoming a mouse nest as a result. Try to get the "paper bag" to drop all the way down in toilet when you "flush" with the pedal before incinerating. If you do that, it's quite effective. There was a broom specifically for the toilet, but nobody had used it recently. Bunks creak loudly every time someone rolls over. Tourists turn up and want a look inside. There is a shooting range not too far away. Road in is more suited to four wheel drive, although going slow in a two wheel drive works. Only water is what you carry in (or snow in winter).

Other : Verizon cellphone coverage came and went.

Overall : If you're OK with the outdoors being, well, the outdoors, this is an excellent trip. I did some cleaning and even though cloud limited the view, I loved it. I'd suggest limiting group size to two and staying upstairs. Consider taking an extra trash bag or two and going out of the way to clean and pack out trash. Keep food sealed and hung up due to mice. Better instructions on how things work might help. Also consider visiting mid week to keep tourism and shooting range activity down.

It really could be fantastic. It's in danger of being loved to death.

Also consider visiting nearby historic Arapaho Springs, built as a campground 1937.

As long as you realize that you are going into the outside and may encounter outside things, this is such a beautiful stay. Yes, temperature fluctuates and rodents will rodent. And in Colorado, outside does not always mean alone. Only one hiking group was rude and loud trying to use the fire tower. The rest were respectful. The incinerating toilet is a fire hazard because the rodents are making nests out of toilet paper all around the toilet. We didn’t bring big enough trash bags to hike out all the waste left from previous guests and the electric to the upstairs didn’t work. Who cares. Gorgeous views, storms and clear skies, perfect temperatures, wonderful stay. Absolutely awe-inspiring and we will be back.

Note: there are a couple of times where the trail seems to split, always stay to the right.

As long as you realize that you are going into the outside and may encounter outside things, this is such a beautiful stay. Yes, temperature fluctuates and rodents will rodent. And in Colorado, outside does not always mean alone. Only one hiking group was rude and loud trying to use the fire tower. The rest were respectful. The incinerating toilet is a fire hazard because the rodents are making nests out of toilet paper all around the toilet. We didn’t bring big enough trash bags to hike out all the waste left from previous guests and the electric to the upstairs didn’t work. Who cares. Gorgeous views, storms and clear skies, perfect temperatures, wonderful stay. Absolutely awe-inspiring and we will be back.

Note: there are a couple of times where the trail seems to split, always stay to the right.

It was fantastic. Very clean. Kitchen was great (had lots of disposable plates and utensils, soaps and wipes). Doors were left unlocked by people before so couple of guys were in there looking around but they were polite and left when we arrived. We didn't see anyone else thereafter, so peaceful. What views. Got to watch the thuderstorms roll in and around us, how exciting and amazing. Had several heaters, which were needed in evening in August.

It was fantastic. Very clean. Kitchen was great (had lots of disposable plates and utensils, soaps and wipes). Doors were left unlocked by people before so couple of guys were in there looking around but they were polite and left when we arrived. We didn't see anyone else thereafter, so peaceful. What views. Got to watch the thuderstorms roll in and around us, how exciting and amazing. Had several heaters, which were needed in evening in August.

Like others have said, what is wrong with people? We were awakened by voices instead of the sunrise. A couple and their dog at 5:50am decided the signs didn’t apply to them? This seems to be a common annoyance. Please add more signs to discourage this. Aside from some trouble with lifting the stairs in 40 mph winds, it was delightful - although I don’t know if I could have done it by myself so there’s that. The nest is stunning! Views for days. Thanks to whoever brought all the newer games. We opted to leave one as well. The lower level is basic and would serve as food storage and extra sleeping. We had terrible weather but still had a great a time - minus the people. I think we all book this tower hoping for privacy though so I love that we are trying for peace and quiet. It’s a great experience! Would definitely do again with friends.

Like others have said, what is wrong with people? We were awakened by voices instead of the sunrise. A couple and their dog at 5:50am decided the signs didn’t apply to them? This seems to be a common annoyance. Please add more signs to discourage this. Aside from some trouble with lifting the stairs in 40 mph winds, it was delightful - although I don’t know if I could have done it by myself so there’s that. The nest is stunning! Views for days. Thanks to whoever brought all the newer games. We opted to leave one as well. The lower level is basic and would serve as food storage and extra sleeping. We had terrible weather but still had a great a time - minus the people. I think we all book this tower hoping for privacy though so I love that we are trying for peace and quiet. It’s a great experience! Would definitely do again with friends.

The climb almost killed all of us. The road to the parking spot almost killed our car. The shooting range at the parking spot never stops. The constant gunfire is terrifying. The tower is over run with mice. The view is nice but the upstairs portion is so dangerous with no attention to building codes or safety. Incredibly cold at night and incredibly hot in the morning as the sun comes up. No water and barely enough plates/bowls and silverware for the 4 of us. The trap door to access the upper floor is so heavy it took all of us to lift it. The mattresses are a joke and the upstairs beds creak so loudly nobody could get any sleep. We woke up to about a dozen hikers all just gathered around our front door and even some of them came upstairs for a look around even though it was clear we were staying there.