Entry No. 37 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: fire-tower
Devil's Head Lookout
Devil's Head is Colorado's last staffed fire lookout — a working ranger mans the historic 1912 tower from roughly mid-May through mid-September, and on a clear day the 143-stair climb to the cab rewards you with a jaw-dropping 360-degree panorama stretching 100 miles across the Front Range. The ranger typically welcomes small groups up into the cab and will point out landmarks and chat about how the fire-detection equipment still works.
The move: Arrive mid-morning on a weekday to beat weekend crowds, hike the 1.4-mile trail through ponderosa forest to the granite outcrop, then climb all 143 stairs together into the lookout cab — the ranger will narrate the view and show you the Osborne Fire Finder. Pack a lunch to eat on the rocks just below the tower with the Rockies sprawling in every direction, then take the short spur to the lookout's privy overlook for a second angle before heading back down.
📍 Before you go It's a real drive — head to Sedalia, west on Highway 67, then south on Rampart Range Road, the last stretch of which is unpaved. The dirt road is generally fine for a 2WD car but gets dusty and washboarded near the end; it's plowed-out closed for winter (roughly December onward), so this is a late-spring-through-fall outing that lines up with the staffed-tower season. Free parking sits at the trailhead base and fills fast on summer weekends, with overflow a short walk away — another reason to come early on a weekday. There's a small USFS campground right by the trailhead if you want to pair the climb with a night out and be first up the stairs at dawn. It's exposed granite at altitude, so carry water and sun protection. Hours shift seasonally — check ahead.
- 📍 Sedalia
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 6518 S Rampart Range Rd, Sedalia, CO 80135
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: fs.usda.gov · Tripadvisor · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-07