Vermont’s fire towers were purpose-built in the early 1900s to keep watch for forest fires. Deforestation in the late 1800s led to a lot of dry wood in Vermont’s forests, and in the early 1900s, a series of wildfires burned more than 15,000 acres across the state.
In 1904, the state of Vermont established a fire safety program. A few years later, the state hired the first-ever fire warden. He advocated for a system of fire towers, and wealthy landowners financed their construction to better protect their land.
The fire towers were often made of metal with four or five flights of wooden stairs wrapping around the tower and leading to the top. Lookouts were paid $2 a day to stand watch.
Vermont was once home to 38 of these historic structures. Today, 14 remain open and accessible to hikers.
Fire towers offer a birds-eye view of the sweeping landscape and the feeling of being in a treehouse. Many towers are also accessible to those who would prefer to drive to the mountain’s peak. Want to see views from above the treeline?
Visiting from late May through October gives you your best shot at climbing the tower when it is open.
It’s a good idea to wear closed-toe shoes, keep three points of contact as you climb the stairs, which can be narrow and steep, and remember conditions at the top can be windier than at the bottom.
