Want to explore lighthouses and lookouts in person? The parks below offer a first-hand opportunity to discover more stories, people, and places.
Ready to go? Get your pass! The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series includes several passes that cover entrance fees at national parks.
Lighthouses
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
- Cabrillo National Monument
- Cape Cod National Seashore
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- Cape Lookout National Seashore
- Channel Islands National Park
- Dry Tortugas National Park
- Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
- Fire Island National Seashore
- Fort Monroe National Monument
- Fort Point National Historic Site
- Fort Pulaski National Monument
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Gulf Islands National Seashore
- Isle Royale National Park
- Mississippi Gulf National Heritage Area
- Olympic National Park
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Salem Maritime National Historic Site
- San Juan National Historic Site
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Statue Of Liberty National Monument
Lookouts
- Grand Canyon National Park - Mary Colter's Lookout Studio and Four Lookout Towers
- Great Smoky Mountains Naitonal Park - Clingman's Dome
- Lassen Volcanic National Park - Mount Harkness
- Mount Rainier National Park - Mount Fremont
- Wind Cave National Park - Rankin Ridge Fire Tower
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- Grand Canyon National Park
Desert View Watchtower
- Locations: Grand Canyon National Park
Desert View Watchtower Retail Store (View Room) is open daily: 8 am to 6 pm. The upper floors of the tower are open, when staffing allows, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The last tower access is at 5:00 pm, with the stairs closed for the day at 5:30 pm. A ticket system admits 25 people with a 20-minute time limit. A National Historic Landmark, the Watchtower was constructed in 1932.The design by Mary Colter is based on Ancestral Puebloan architecture found in the southwest.
- Blue Ridge Parkway
Frying Pan Fire Tower
- Locations: Blue Ridge Parkway
Located at Milepost 409 along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the historic Frying Pan Fire Tower is accessible via a 1.5-mile hike on a wide, gravel roadbed. Boasting expansive views of Cold Mountain, Pink Beds, and the Pisgah National Forest, this short but steep climb is popular with hikers of all ages.
- Mount Rainier National Park
Gobblers Knob Fire Lookout
- Locations: Mount Rainier National Park
Gobblers Knob Fire Lookout, one of four historic fire lookouts in the park, sits on a rocky outcrop above Lake George near the Westside Road.
- Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Fremont Fire Lookout
- Locations: Mount Rainier National Park
This historic fire lookout is the highest in the park and sits along a rocky ridgeline with views of Mount Rainier.
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
Mount Harkness Fire Lookout
- Locations: Lassen Volcanic National Park
High atop Mt. Harkness, this rustic fire lookout is still accessible to hikers.
- Isle Royale National Park
Feldtmann Tower
- Locations: Isle Royale National Park
The Feldtmann Fire Tower offers a unique 360 degree view of the west end of Isle Royale National Park.
- Isle Royale National Park
Ojibway Tower
- Locations: Isle Royale National Park
Ojibway Tower is an old fire tower, converted to a telecommunications tower, located on the East End of Isle Royale National Park.
- Isle Royale National Park
Ishpeming Tower
- Locations: Isle Royale National Park
Ishpeming Fire Tower, located on Isle Royale National Park, offers a glimspe of conservation’s past.
- Lava Beds National Monument
Schonchin Butte Lookout, Tulelake, Ca
- Locations: Lava Beds National Monument
- Lava Beds National Monument
Devil's Homestead Crossing
- Locations: Lava Beds National Monument
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fire tower lookout
America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes
The America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series includes different options of interagency passes that provide access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas across the United States.
Passes cover:
- entrance fees at National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife sites
- standard amenity fees (day-use fees) at Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers sites
In general, passes cover the above types of fees for everyone in a personal vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas or up to four adults at sites that charge per person. Children ages 15 or under are admitted free. Two lifetime passes (Senior and Access) provide additional benefits, such as a 50-percent discount on camping at some sites. Always check with individual sites for details.
Interagency passes include:
- Annual Pass: $80
- Annual Military Pass: Free*
- Lifetime Military Pass: Free*
- Annual Fourth Grade Pass for US students in fourth grade: Free
- Annual Senior Pass: $20
- Lifetime Senior Pass: $80
- Lifetime Access Pass: Free
- Annual Volunteer Pass: Free (250 hours of volunteer service at any of the six participating federal agencies is required)
*A free Annual Military Pass is available for current US military members and their dependents. A free Lifetime Military Pass is available for Gold Star Families and US military veterans. Find detailed information about this new program, including who qualifies, acceptable forms of identification, and how to download a Gold Star Family voucher.
Last updated: July 26, 2024