McCarthy Point Lookout Site
US 2116, CA 172
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 2116, CA 172 (view other lookout sites in United States, California) |
| Date Registered | January 2, 2026 |
| Nominated by | Darin McQuoid |
| Location |
Lassen National Forest Tehama County, California |
| Coordinates |
N 40° 11.078' W 121° 40.563' (view using Google Maps) N 40° 11' 05" W 121° 40' 34" N 40.184630° W 121.676050° |
| Elevation | 3,762 ft (1,147 m) |
| Built | 1936 |
| Removed | 2004 |
| National Historic Lookout Register | US 583, CA 60 |
| Administered by | U.S. Forest Service |
Description
Built by the CCC in 1936, this structure is a unique one-story residence with a glassed in bedroom used for fire detection. Form McCarthy Point, on the rim of the precipitous Mill Creek Canyon, one can see the Ishi Wilderness, the rugged terrain which faced 19th Century travelers on the nearby Lassen Emigrant Trail and the mill Creek Wild and Scenic River, which supports one of the last spring run of Chinook salmon in California.
This lookout burned in the 2024 Park Fire. All that remains is its foundation.
Map
Change Basemap
Photos
March 2025 photo, after 2024 fire