Third Tower This Month: Mohican’s Fire Lookout 80 ft up

I definitely never made a plan to become someone who climbs fire towers, but here we are. And here this was my third one in the last 30 days, and my third ever in life. First was in North Carolina. Second, Blue Rock State Park. Now: Mohican Fire Tower. Each one has something different, but this one stood out before I even took a step. You don’t need to hike to get there. You can literally drive right up and park underneath it, like it’s waiting on you. That’s a rarity, and it makes it hard to say no, even if your legs are tired or your day’s already been full. You pull in, you look up, and there it is. 80 feet of steel, built in 1934, stretching up above the treetops like it always meant to outlast us.

This fire tower stands inside Mohican-Memorial State Forest, which covers more than 4,500 acres of wooded hills, winding trails, and old forest roads. The forest surrounds Mohican State Park, which is separate but directly connected. Which leads me to believe that, once you’re in the area, you’re in both. State park on one side, with its gorge overlooks and waterfalls. State forest on the other, with its wilder stretches and fire lookout tower still standing from Ohio’s early fire detection days. It’s state-managed land with a long history of both recreation and conservation, and this tower is part of that legacy.

The climb is tight and steep, like all of them are. Metal stairs, no guardrails and nothing but air between you and the trees. The higher you get, the quieter it feels. The wind shows up. The trees fall away. It always hits me somewhere around halfway that there’s no reason to do this unless you love it. Unless something about seeing the land from above makes you feel like you understand it better. I’ve been thinking about that since the first one. Or it is likely I’m just a little bit crazy.

The cab at the top was locked shut, which is fair, too many people would mess with it if it wasn’t. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get high enough. The last open platform, just below the cab, gives a full view of the forest. You can see the ridge lines layered into the distance, trees rolling out in every direction, and depending on the sky, you might catch light hitting the hills in ways that look like it had to be staged. I took my time up there, just looking. And then I noticed the two padlocks clipped to the wire. I don’t know who left them, but I love finding locks like that in the wild. People leave them without instructions. Without explanation. That’s the best kind of marking.

This was my third tower in a month, not in a calendar sense, but in the 30-day stretch of time where my body remembered each climb. I don’t know if number four will be at Ash Cave or Scioto or somewhere else entirely. What I do know is that I’ll keep going. There’s something here for me. I just haven’t figured out the whole shape of it yet. I do know this: Mohican’s tower, locked cab, two padlocks, full view, was worth every step.

As if the tower climb isn’t enough for your day, this whole area is packed. There’s a big gorge overlook just up the road, right at the stop sign, that you can drive straight. No hike required there either but also there it an optional one. Or it’s just a short walk from your car to one of the biggest views in the park. There are waterfalls nearby too… Little Lyons Falls, Big Lyons Falls. Both on easy trails that don’t take long but reward you well. The covered bridge isn’t far, either, and if you’re paying attention, you’ll find stone walls and old roadbeds winding off into the trees.

As always check out my links to see more photos and videos from each spot!

Check the Google album for the raw media