Eagle Peak Lookout

Exterior of Eagle Peak Lookout in May 2024.

Eagle Peak Lookout is an active US Forest Service fire lookout tower located in the Gila National Forest approximately 18 miles east of Reserve, New Mexico.[1][2] On May 22, 2022, the Eagle Peak Lookout was added to the National Historic Lookout Register.

History and construction

Eagle Peak Lookout is a US Forest Service Standard Plan CL-100 to CL-106 Series type lookout tower constructed in 1955. The tower consists of a 14'x14' (196 ft²) steel cab on top of a 10' tall concrete blockhouse.

A previous lookout tower was built on Eagle Peak in 1929 and was ultimately replaced by the current Eagle Peak Lookout in 1955.[3]

Sunset from inside Eagle Peak Lookout

Geography and climate

Eagle Peak Lookout sits atop the summit of Eagle Peak Mountain at an elevation of 9,801 ft. (2,987 m)[4] Eagle Peak is the highest point in the Tularosa Mountains.[5]

Eagle Peak has a semi-arid climate. The peak typically receives half of its annual precipitation during the monsoon season beginning in July and lasting until September.[6]

Temperature in the summer typically range from highs in the 80's °F to lows in the 40's °F.[6]

Access

Eagle Peak Lookout is accessible by NFSR 233 which provides access to Eagle Peak Road #38, as well as hiking trails #768 and #766.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Eagle Peak Lookout | National Historic Lookout Register". nhlr.org. Archived from the original on 2025-06-08. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  2. ^ "Eagle Peak to Reserve". Eagle Peak to Reserve. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  3. ^ United States. Forest Service. Southwestern Region (1989). Lookouts in the Southwestern Region. National Agricultural Library U. S. Department of Agriculture. [Albuquerque, N.M.?] : USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region.
  4. ^ "DATASHEETS". www.ngs.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  5. ^ Office, United States Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State (1986). New Mexico Statewide Wilderness Study: Appendices, wilderness analysis reports (Las Cruces District). U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office.
  6. ^ a b Office, United States Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State (1986). New Mexico Statewide Wilderness Study: Appendices, wilderness analysis reports (Las Cruces District). U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office.
  7. ^ "Gila National Forest | Gila National Forest works on improving Tularosa River crossing | Forest Service". www.fs.usda.gov. 2023-05-01. Archived from the original on 2025-06-08. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  8. ^ "Gila National Forest | Trails | Forest Service". www.fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
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