EXPLORE…
your national forest. Opportunities for scenic enjoyment abound.
- Jordan Peak Lookout
Jordan Peak has the distinction of quite possibly being the oldest lookout site in Sequoia National Forest. The current lookout was constructed in 1934 and all of the materials were hauled in by pack animals. The 20 foot steel tower originally had open bracing, but in 1970, the tower was enclosed with metal siding
Needles Lookout was built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The lookout sits on a granite pinnacle. Access to the tower is along stairways and walkways that are suspended from the granite or across granite outcrops. According to Mark Swift, archaeologist who nominated Needles to the National Historic Lookout Register, Needles is "one of the most fantastic lookout locations in California, rivaled by Buck Rock on the North end of the Forest."
The Needles are a series of massive granite rock formations rising from the North Fork of the Kern River near its junction with the Little Kern. The fire lookout atop the Needles, at an elevation of 8,245 feet, offers majestic views of the Golden Trout Wilderness and Kern River Canyon. A 2.5-mile long, moderately difficult hike leads to the lookout, which includes a steep, long staircase leading into the tower itself. Visitors may reach the lookout station via road and trail access near Quaking Aspen Campground on the Tule River Ranger District.
This massive granite monolith along the Western Divide Highway forms a natural vista point overlooking the Kern River Canyon. Other scenic spots along the Western Divide include several mountain meadows, including Quaking Aspen, Long, Redwood, and Holey meadows.
