USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Jersey Jim Fire Tower
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Season
- May 28 to October 16
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,829 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- WEST MANCOS (NFSR 561) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- San Juan National Forest
- Nearest town
- Mancos
- Address
- Jersey Jim Foundation, Mancos, CO, 81328
- Phone
- 970 882-7296
About
Overview
The Jersey Jim Lookout Tower is named after an early cattleman who ran Jersey cattle in the area. Today, cattle are still grazed in the area under permit. Many nearby trails were established by loggers seeking timber or by miners accessing hard-rock ore deposits in the La Plata (Spanish for silver) Mountains. Hesperus Peak, a sacred mountain to the Navajo Nation, is visible, as is Sleeping Ute Mountain of the Four Corners. The Jersey Jim Lookout Tower was home to U.S. Forest Service fire lookouts from the 1940s to 1970s.
The tower was renovated and saved from demolition in 1991 by the Jersey Jim Foundation, a nonprofit local volunteer organization, which operates and maintains the tower under permit with the San Juan National Forest. Rental income is earmarked for maintenance of the facility to offer this unique experience to the American public.
The Tower cab includes the original furniture and propane heating and lighting. However, there is no electricity or running water. A sink, propane refrigerator, and oven/stove are in the kitchen area. Guests must bring their own supplies. The dining table seats four, and there’s a double bed, and dresser. With windows all round, views are 360 degrees.
In the middle of the cab is the historic fire finder, which early lookouts used to spot fires, and which you can use to orient yourself to surrounding landmarks. In the cabinet below are materials offering information about the tower and the area.
Nearby Attractions
Mesa Verde National Park, Durango to Silverton Railroad, Anazasi Heritage Center, Four Corners Monument
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 9° | -13° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 30° | 11° | -6° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 33° | 15° | 3° | 61° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 42° | 21° | 4° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 53° | 28° | 15° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 68° | 41° | 28° | 81° | 5 of 11 |
| July | 74° | 49° | 37° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 70° | 46° | 38° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 63° | 41° | 24° | 73° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 52° | 28° | 7° | 65° | 10 of 10 |
| November | 43° | 22° | -7° | 55° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 31° | 7° | -12° | 48° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Aspen Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Transfer Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 17 sites
- Mancos State Park · Colorado State Parks · 8 mi · 34 sites
- Kroeger · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 4 sites
- Snowslide · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 4 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-04-29. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.