The Lookout Tower Challenge (LTC) is a program that challenges hikers to reach 24 lookout towers in Western North Carolina. Fire and lookout towers offer breathtaking 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. Lookouts are also historic structures left over from a bygone era of fire detection; sentinels of the forest that safeguarded the mountains and forests we cherish. The LTC encompasses hikes in all regions of Western North Carolina and offers an assortment of challenging hikes over varying terrain. Formal recognition from the Carolina Mountain Club is granted to those who successfully reach all 24 lookout towers. However, the real reward is the exhilarating vistas from their mountain summits.
Upon hiking to all 24 lookout towers of the Lookout Tower Challenge (LTC) using minimum hiking distance, submit a completed Checklist form (or comparable log of completion) and $15 to the Carolina Mountain Club Challenge Committee via mail at the address below:
Carolina Mountain Club
Attn: Challenge Committee
P.O. Box 68
Asheville, NC 28802
Completers of the Lookout Tower Challenge (LTC) will be rewarded with a hiking patch, certificate of completion, and formal recognition at the club’s annual dinner banquet. For recognition, completing challengers must be members of both the Carolina Mountain Club and the Forest Fire Lookout Association. Visit their links for membership applications.
The towers, and the round trip distance of the hike via the shortest route:
Nantahala National Forest Towers
Wayah Bald 3.0
Panther Top 1.5
Joanna Bald 1.2
Albert Mountain 1.0
Wesser Bald 1.8
Cowee Bald 1.0
Yellow Mountain 8.4
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Towers (and vicinity)
Shuckstack 7.0
Clingmans Dome 1.0
Mt. Cammerer 10.4
Mt. Sterling 5.4
Mt. Noble 4.8
Barnett Knob 1.2
Central NC Highlands
Rich Mountain 2.2
Camp Creek Bald 1.6
Chambers Mountain 3.8
Blue Ridge and Black Mountains
Fryingpan Mountain 1.4
Bearwallow Mountain 2.0
Little Snowball 0.0
Mt. Mitchell 1.0
Green Knob 1.0
Northwestern North Carolina
Flat Top Mountain 5.4
Rendezvous Mountain 1.0
Moores Knob 3.8
Total Miles: 70.9
