Bald Mountain is the only standing and operating lookout facility on the Inyo National Forest. It was built in 1963 and was taken out of full-time service in the 1980’s. In 2024, the Forest Fire Lookout Association partnered with the Mono Lake Ranger District of the Inyo National Forest to put her back into service with trained volunteers.
The objective of lookout towers is to detect and report young wildfires so that responders can control them before they become large and destructive.
In 2024 and 2025, the FFLA deployed volunteer lookouts from five other national forests to staff the facility in the “Visiting Volunteer” program, where experienced volunteer lookouts spend 2 or more days on duty at Bald Mountain and overnight in the tower’s living quarters.
Also in 2025, Eastern Sierra residents were recruited and trained in order to build a local chapter to fill shifts and operate the tower.
Scroll down to learn more about the role of a Bald Mountain Fire Lookout.
Learn about being a Fire Lookout
Bald Mountain is looking for Volunteer Fire Lookouts. It is a rewarding activity. If you enjoy the outdoors, this is probably one of the most scenic spots in California. You will learn how to be a lookout which will challenge your mind. And you will be helping to preserve our lookouts and their legacy.
Play the Scenic Video to experience the views from Bald Mountain.
I have immense respect and gratitude for the exhausting and dangerous work that wildland firefighters do. If I can get them to a fire while it is still small - before it gets large and aggressive, I can make the task easier and safer for them. That motivation keeps me coming back each season.
S.M. September 2026
I previously worked for the BLM and the Forest Service as a fire lookout. It was one of the best jobs I ever had. When I saw the need for a volunteer lookout at Bald Mountain I jumped at the opportunity.
The main purpose of the position is to watch for smoke which may be the start of a forest fire, alerting the dispatch center of the smoke and assisting the fire crews as needed. I feel it is a great responsibility to be part of the fire detection and fire fighting team.
The other benefits of the position are watching the wildlife, observing the seasons changing and meeting the public visitors while also explaining the function and value of fire lookouts. It’s been great spending these days in the wildernesses during all weather types and season changes in the high mountains.
Overall, being a fire lookout volunteer is a great position.
B.Y. September 2026
Being EYES OF THE FOREST is both a visual joy and soul soothing. Watching the subtle changes in color, shade and sky over our forests, mountains and homes is always interesting. I enjoy visitors seeing the territory from our high loft, some coming back for years.
Staffing Bald Mountain Lookout is special for me as I grew up in Bishop and spent a great deal of time in the Crowley Lake, Mammoth and June areas as a kid and young adult. I often saw this building from afar but thought it was a private cabin. It’s satisfying to now be a steward of the old building and this beautiful area. Pine forests and volcanos, it doesn’t get much better than this. Scanning the territory every 15 minutes, using the fire finder and maps to learn new landmarks is fun. It’s a good feeling helping the forest managers keep an eye on daily situations.
When staffing, my wife and I stay in our small trailer in a Lee Vining RV park so the remodeling of the living quarters is a fun aspect to watch unfold.
R.K. September 2026
Here are a couple of reasons I like working at Bald Mountain Fire Lookout.
P.M. September 2026