Bear Mountain Fire Lookout

Bear Mountain Fire Lookout Tower

Perched at 7,200 feet, Bear Mountain Fire Lookout Tower offers sweeping views of the southern Black Hills all the way to the Wyoming border. Located northwest of Custer, South Dakota, this historic site is the third-highest point in the Black Hills and has served as a vital fire detection post for more than a century.

A Century of Change

The first tower was built in 1910, with an enclosed cab added in 1914. As the lookout’s role grew, the cab was enlarged in 1924. In 1939, the original wooden frame was replaced with a 30-foot steel structure, complete with an interior staircase and a larger cab where lookouts could work and sleep. A garage was also built to store equipment.

The cab was modernized in 1967 to keep pace with advancing technology. In 2010, a prefabricated building replaced an older structure that housed radio equipment.

Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy

The 1939 tower and garage were constructed by the Custer Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Over time, the garage evolved from vehicle storage to a winter warming station for recreationists. Soon, the garage will be removed to make way for a new public toilet facility and two interpretive panels highlighting the tower’s history and CCC contributions.

Ongoing Improvements

Additional upgrades have included radio and telephone installations, a concrete parking pad, picnic area footing, and a parking area below the tower.

Still Watching Over the Hills

Bear Mountain Fire Lookout remains active and staffed from late spring through early fall. In 2017, it was added to the National Historic Lookout Register, an initial step toward listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This program, managed by the U.S. Forest Service and partner organizations, honors historic fire lookout towers nationwide.