Top fire lookouts
Fire LookoutRipley Fire Lookout Tower
Fire LookoutMount Cammerer Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutSewanee Fire Lookout Tower
Fire LookoutBlack Creek (Grassy Knob) Tower
Fire LookoutKettlefoot Fire Lookout Tower
Fire LookoutFall Creek Falls Fire Lookout Tower
Fire LookoutCove Mountain Tower
Fire LookoutPickett State Park Fire Tower
Fire LookoutEnglish Mountain Fire Lookout Tower
Fire LookoutLeach Fire Lookout Tower
Fire LookoutBig Hill Fire Lookout Tower
Fire LookoutTwinton Fire Lookout Tower
All fire lookouts (13)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripley Fire Lookout Tower | Lauderdale County | — | Central | 4 |
| Mount Cammerer Fire LookoutGreat Smoky Mountains | Cocke County | — | Cove Creek | 3 |
| Sewanee Fire Lookout Tower | Franklin County | — | Sewanee | 3 |
| Black Creek (Grassy Knob) Tower | Scott County | — | Huntsville | 3 |
| Kettlefoot Fire Lookout Tower | Johnson County | — | Mountain City | 3 |
| Fall Creek Falls Fire Lookout Tower | Bledsoe County | — | Pikeville | 3 |
| Cove Mountain TowerGreat Smoky Mountains | Sevier County | — | Gatlinburg | 3 |
| Pickett State Park Fire Tower | Fentress County | — | Jamestown | 2 |
| English Mountain Fire Lookout Tower | Cocke County | — | Newport | 3 |
| Leach Fire Lookout Tower | Carroll County | — | Huntingdon | 3 |
| Big Hill Fire Lookout Tower | Marion County | — | Jasper | 4 |
| Twinton Fire Lookout Tower | Overton County | — | Grimsley | 3 |
| Chuck Swan Fire Lookout Tower | Union County | — | Speedwell | 3 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph fire lookouts
Lookouts are built for 360° views, so sunrise and sunset are both options — use the azimuths to decide which view you want.
- Some lookouts can be rented overnight through recreation.gov, which puts you on site for both sunset and sunrise.
- Shoot the tower itself against the Milky Way or star trails on clear, moonless nights.
- Haze from wildfire smoke can turn the sun deep red but reduce visibility; check air quality.
- Access roads may be rough or seasonal.
Season: Summer and early autumn; many towers are staffed only during fire season.