PISGAH FOREST, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower is a decommissioned U.S. Forest Service firewatch station along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 70-foot tower climb is one of the most iconic hikes in Western North Carolina.
Fast facts
- An out-and-back hike to the Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower, including an ascent of the tower itself, is about 1.7 miles.
- The trailhead for Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower is located at 408 Blue Ridge Parkway. Parking for the trail is available right off of the parkway in a gravel lot.
- Climbing the 70 feet of Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower is permitted and possible. However, the tower is constructed from a basic metal, has a very narrow staircase and is susceptible to swaying in the breeze. If you are afraid of heights, do not attempt.
- The trail is dog-friendly, but popular, so keep those puppies on a leash.
A rickety stairway to hiking heaven
Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower is around 45 minutes from downtown Asheville. Despite the length of the drive, the views along the Blue Ridge Parkway – and on the hike itself – are entirely worth it. Park in the trailhead gravel lot in front of the metal gate.
The hiking route is straightforward: keep to the broad gravel path. The trail will climb around 300 feet in elevation before the tower summit, making it a moderately steep route.
As you get higher, a couple of landmarks will stick out. One resembles a sort of log playground, with fallen trees and thick branches arranged in a jumble just off the main path. Along the embankments of the trail, large swaths of moss cover the landscape, with gnarled, twisting trees rising out of the green fluff. Even for those who will not attempt the tower ascent, there are still great views to admire along the course of the hike.
The route will curve leftward at the introduction of power line towers. Follow suit. Do not cross the metal fence shortly afterward. The road is marked with orange and yellow signs warning against trespassing.
The most dramatic section of the pre-tower hike is a straight shot underneath the power lines. With the tower looming in the distance, hikers will march toward their destination along a gradual gravel slope.
Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower could be considered a modern art museum as much as a Blue Ridge Parkway hiking staple. The base of the tower and its accompanying electrical sheds are covered with colorful graffiti, from contemporary additions like “RIP Chuck Norris” and “67 67 67 67” to tags a year or older.
Even if you stop at the tower base, there is a rewarding view of the surrounding mountains in several directions. However, the top of the tower boasts sights unlike almost any other hike in Western North Carolina.
The tower is old. According to an article by Conserving Carolina, the perch was constructed in 1941 by the U.S. Forest Service as a live-in assignment for firewatchers. The 12 foot by 12 foot cab at the top of the tower was equipped with basic living necessities like a bed and stove, allowing USFS rangers to reside at the site for weeks at a time. The tower was in active use by the USFS until the 1990s, after which it lay dormant until its restoration for public use in 2010.
Today, the structure shows its age, particularly during the wobbly way up. To be fully candid, I had to take a couple of stabilizing deep breaths near the end of my ascent, and I was white-knuckling the railings the entire time. Climbing Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower is not for the faint of heart. However, the bravery involved in the climb hasn’t stopped the tower from being a popular destination for hikers for at least two decades. Scratches in the paint of the tower staircase sport dedications like “SHELBY TOMMY 2007.”
The top of the tower is an explosion of colorful initialing. The cab is now vacant of its firewatching gear, but it is filled with artwork, vandalism and proud autographs. My personal favorite tag was a cat in red paint, captioned a simple “MEOW.” The views, of course, are spectacular.
Be extra careful making your descent. However, climb down with pride. Conquering Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower is a uniquely WNC feat. As one piece of graffiti gleefully put it, “I SURVIVED – M.C. 2025.”
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Hikes of WNC: Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower
Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower is a decommissioned U.S. Forest Service firewatch station along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 70-foot tower climb is one of the most iconic hikes in Western North Carolina.
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