Points of Interest

Jacob Lake Lookout Tower

An 80-foot climb with a view worth the stairs

(64)

Fredonia, AZ

About

The Jacob Lake Fire Lookout Tower is one of those spots people stumble onto while studying the map on the way to the North Rim, then can't resist stopping for. It's an 80-foot U.S. Forest Service lookout standing right along the route near Jacob Lake, and yes, you can climb it. A long switchback staircase runs almost to the top, putting you above the surrounding ponderosa and pinyon-juniper forest with sweeping views across the Kaibab Plateau on a clear day.

What to expect

A real climb: reviewers describe "A LOT of stairs" and recommend being in decent shape for the trip up and back down.
It moves: more than one visitor has noted the tower sways slightly in the wind near the top — unsettling but structurally normal for a working lookout.
The cab itself is locked: the actual observation room at the summit is off-limits to the public (it's still staffed seasonally by Forest Service fire lookout personnel), so the payoff is the stair climb and the view from just below it, not access inside.
Quick stop, big impact: it sits right off the road, making it an easy add to a North Rim drive without detouring far.

With a 4.7-star rating across 62 reviews, it's a well-loved roadside break — just check conditions if wildfire activity or prescribed burns are underway in the area, since smoke has occasionally cut visibility for visitors.

Reviews (64)

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4.7

64 reviews

Google Reviews

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Kelly W.

a year ago

Love to climb any tower. This one was a big one! Got to the top and tried to open the hatch to observation area and was greeted by a conservation agent inside. That was a first for me. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be inside.

Lisa Larkin

2 years ago

This is a pretty cool tower. You can climb it, but at your own risk. It's 80 feet high, but the entrance to the lookout room at the very top is locked up, so you can't get up there. It's still an impressive view. I was there when they were doing a prescribed burn, so it was really smoky. I would have rated it 5 stars if not for that. The forest service needs to do their work, so I would recommend going at another time if possible.

Michael M

4 years ago

What a climb and what a view if you make it to the top. You are above the tree line and can see for miles on a clear day like we had. There are A LOT of stairs so make sure you are physically fit to do the climb up and then back down. It's worth is if you do!

G Snow

4 years ago

Really tall lookout tower. I was there with poor weather and fading light and felt like I could still see forever. Tower is solid but sways slightly with the shifting weight of climbing. Terrifying but well worth it. Also its right next to the road. Great for a quick stop.

Rene Aguilera

3 years ago

Saw this on Google maps while planning our trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Never one to pass up a photo opportunity, stopped to get some pictures. You can climb up to steps almost all the way to the top. The entrance of the actual lookout room is blocked, that said, you still are pretty high up from the ground. Not recommended if you are scared of heights. The wind was blowing so hard that we could feel the tower swaying a little. Definitely recommend you stop by and enjoy the climb before headed down the road to visit the North Rim. Beautiful view from up top.