Exploring North Carolina's Lookout Towers

Peter J. Barr is the author of Hiking North Carolina’s Lookout Towers and subsequently initiated the North Carolina chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association, an organization working to restore and preserve historic fire lookout towers in western NC. His efforts, in partnership with numerous agencies and funders, have since facilitated the restoration of 10 lookout towers across the region and developed an increased public awareness for the heritage of these historic structures. Peter served a decade as Conserving Carolina’s Trails Director, where he pursued implementation of a recreation trail network on conserved lands in the dramatic Hickory Nut Gorge, designing and constructing more than 20 miles of new sustainable trails. He also authored the “Stories of the Land” column for Conserving Carolina in the Hendersonville Times-News for six years, chronicling the human connection to protected lands. He is a two-time nationally award-winning trail designer and has led trail development of multiple North Carolina trails. Kevin Adams is a naturalist, writer, teacher, and photographer who has had a lifelong love affair with nature and the outdoors. A photographer for nearly 35 years, he is the author of nine books, including the bestselling North Carolina Waterfalls. An accomplished photography instructor, Kevin leads photo tours in the Southeast and abroad and teaches numerous workshops and seminars throughout the year. Often called the “MacGyver of Photography,” he designs and produces several unique products for photographers. Besides lookout towers, his favorite photo subjects are waterfalls and anything under the night sky. When he can get out of the office, Kevin enjoys hiking, traveling, and exploring the outdoor world. Kevin is founder and executive director of Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of waterfalls and waterfall lovers. He lives in Waynesville, NC, with his wife, Patricia; their two cats, Lucy and Titan; nine chickens; and a troublesome groundhog that lives under the house and eats Patricia’s plants. For more about Kevin, visit his website at kadamsphoto.com.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Forest Fire Lookout Association
History of Lookout Towers
How to Use This Guide
A Note from the Photographer
List of Lookout Towers
Nantahala National Forest


Wayah Bald

Albert Mountain

Wesser Bald

Joanna Bald

Cowee Bald

Yellow Mountain

Panther Top

Little Scaly

Great Smoky Mountains


Shuckstack

Clingmans Dome

Mount Cammerer

Mount Sterling

Barnett Knob

Bald & Newfound Mountains


Rich Mountain

Camp Creek Bald

Duckett Top

Chambers Mountain

Blue Ridge & Black Mountains


Fryingpan Mountain

Bearwallow Mountain

Sassafras Mountain

Spivey Mountain

Mount Mitchell

Green Knob

Little Snowball

Northwestern High Country & Piedmont


Flat Top Mountain

Rendezvous Mountain

Moores Knob

Shepherd Mountain

Former Lookout Tower Sites with Spectacular Views


Haoe Bald

High Rocks

Standing Indian Mountain

Satulah Mountain

High Top

Pilot Mountain

Table Rock Mountain

Mount Jefferson

Western North Carolina Historical Towers


Appendix 1: Lookout Tower Challenge

Appendix 2: Western NC Restricted Lookout Towers

Appendix 3: Western NC Removed Lookout Towers


Author & Photographer Bios

Index