Sunset Peak Lookout Site
US 1729, CA 20
July 1940 photo

July 1940 photo - courtesy of National Archives

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 1729, CA 20 (view other lookout sites in United States, California)
Date Registered July 30, 2018
Nominated by Michael Guerin
Location Angeles National Forest / San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates N 34° 12.999' W 117° 41.359' (view using Google Maps)
N 34° 12' 60" W 117° 41' 22"
N 34.216648° W 117.689311°
Elevation 5,796 ft (1,767 m)
Built 1927
Removed 1974
Administered by U.S. Forest Service

Description

Sunset Peak replaced the former site on what is now known as Lookout Mountain, across the saddle to the north. Photographs appear to show it as an L-4 or BC-301 cab atop a 20 ft. steel tower. There was a small residence to the north and a cistern to the south. (The corrugated metal remains over what is believed to be the cistern.). Besides that all that remains are the footings for the tower and the foundation for the house.

Ron Kemnow's site recounts stories of a 1928 lightning storm that destroyed the cabin, construction of the motorway in 1938 (eliminating the need of a pack train to bring supplies,) and a December 1938 fire which threatened the tower. Nonetheless, lookout Sherman Foster remained at his post. Both he and the tower survived.

The cab and tower were reportedly disassembled and transported to the Ontario Air Tanker Base in 1974 or 75. The final disposition of the structure is unknown.

Map

Change Basemap

Photos

2013 photo of site

2013 photo of site - courtesy of Michael Guerin

2013 photo of cabin foundation

2013 photo of cabin foundation - courtesy of Michael Guerin

2013 photo of cistern roofing

2013 photo of cistern roofing - courtesy of Michael Guerin

2013 photo of tower footing

2013 photo of tower footing - courtesy of Michael Guerin

1963 photo

1963 photo - courtesy of Gordon Rowley, Angeles National Forest

1940

1940

1927 - First year of operation

1927 - First year of operation

Circa 1975 - Just prior to dismantling for transport to the Ontario Tanker Base

Circa 1975 - Just prior to dismantling for transport to the Ontario Tanker Base

Cab removed for relocation - Circa 1975

Cab removed for relocation - Circa 1975