New Hampshire Fire Tower Quest Program – The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands has a hiking program involving the fifteen fire lookout towers that they operate in New Hampshire. Once a hiker visits any five of the fire towers on the list, they can receive a patch, certificate, and a letter of recognition from the NH Division of Forests and Lands.
There are almost 100 known fire tower sites scattered across the state of New Hampshire. Dating back to the early 1900s, these manned towers were used to spot wildfires; they played an important role in protecting New Hampshire's forests, but very few remain standing today. And the intention of this hiking list is to create awareness for the role fire towers play in protecting New Hampshire's forests.
Two great books about the New Hampshire fire towers are Field Guide to New Hampshire Firetowers by Iris W. Baird and Chris Haartz and Looking Out for Our Forests by Iris W. Baird. Both are wonderful, well-researched books. Iris W. Baird's (1930-2016) research on the New Hampshire fire towers is impressive.
For more information on the New Hampshire fire tower quest and a downloadable application, see the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands website. Another great resource loaded with information about New Hampshire's fire towers is the Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA). The fire towers on this list are a great part of New Hampshire history.
New Hampshire Fire Tower Quest List
(February 2023)
| Mountain | Elevation (feet) | Status | History Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magalloway Mountain | 3,360 | On List | Updating.... Town: Pittsburg |
| Cardigan Mountain | 3,121 | On List | Updating.... Town: Orange |
| Kearsarge Mountain | 2,937 | On List | Updating.... Town: Warner |
| Belknap Mountain | 2,384 | On List | Updating.... Town: Gilford |
| Pitcher Mountain | 2,153 | On List | Updating.... Town: Stoddard |
| Pack Monadnock | 2,280 | On List | Updating.... Town: Peterborough |
| Prospect Mountain | 2,059 | On List | Updating.... Town: Lancaster |
| Red Hill | 2,029 | On List | Updating.... Town: Moultonboro |
| Green Mountain | 1,907 | On List | Updating.... Town: Effingham |
| Milan Hill | 1,737 | On List | Updating.... Town: Milan |
| Blue Job | 1,356 | On List | Updating.... Town: Farmington |
| Oak Hill | 920 | On List | Updating.... Town: Loudon |
| Pawtuckaway | 908 | On List | Updating.... Town: Nottingham |
| Federal Hill | 690 | On List | Updating.... Town: Milord |
| Warner Hill | 605 | On List | Updating.... Town: Derry |
The above list of fire towers on the New Hampshire Fire Lookout Tower Quest Program is up to date as of February 2023. However, the elevations may not be exact.
Happy image making..
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Bibliography:
Baird, Iris, Kelley, Jack. New Hampshire Fire Towers. [online] Firelookout.org. Available at: http://www.firelookout.org/lookouts/nh/nh.htm. n.d.
Tribute Archive. “Iris W. Baird Obituary (2016) – Lancaster, NH – Bailey Funeral Home.” Tributearchive.com, https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/1174634/Iris-W-Baird .
Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
ScenicNH Photography LLC
Specializing in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Erin Paul’s photography and writing focuses on the history of the White Mountains, and telling the story of abandoned places and forgotten historical sites.