You Can Rent this Fire Lookout Tower in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest for $75 a Night

If you have ever wanted to sleep inside a piece of Northern California history with nothing but mountains, stars and silence in every direction, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest has exactly what you are looking for.

The forest rents out several decommissioned fire lookout towers and historic cabins, and they are some of the most unique overnight stays in the state. Prices start at just $75 a night.

Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout sits at 7,309 feet and offers a full 360-degree view of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and the Medicine Lake Highlands lava fields. The 14-by-14-foot cabin comes with two cots and a wood-burning stove. Girard Ridge Lookout, built in 1931 and believed to be the oldest of its design still standing in California, looks directly at Mt. Shasta to the north and the granite spires of Castle Crags to the west. Hirz Mountain Lookout sits on a 20-foot steel tower overlooking the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake, with views stretching in every direction. It rents for $100 a night with a four-night maximum.

All of the lookouts are rustic. There is no electricity, no running water and no cell service. Guests need to bring their own water, food, bedding and a camp stove. Access roads are steep, unpaved and often require a high-clearance vehicle.

Reservations open on Recreation.gov up to six months in advance, and these spots book fast. If you want a summer date, set a reminder now because they tend to fill the morning they become available.