Restoring Chews Ridge Lookout
Perched at 5,043 feet in the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest, Chews Ridge Lookout has been standing watch since the 1920s. After decades of seasonal staffing, a rebuilt cab in 1978, and a major renovation in 1984, the lookout was taken out of service around 1990 and later used for radio repeater equipment.
In 2017, a new effort began to bring Chews Ridge back into service — and in 2019, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to make it happen, repairing and rehabbing the tower and cab so trained volunteer lookouts could return to shifts starting in August 2019.
The starting point
Chews Ridge Lookout as we found it — weather-worn, with years of wear and damage showing, and a lot of work ahead.
Prepping the workspace
Disinfecting the cab in full protective gear to make the space safe for the work ahead.
Rebuilding from the inside out
Volunteers install new drywall where years of rot took out the wall and ceiling—restoring the cab’s structure and safety.
From soft spots to solid ground
Replacing the subfloor and tiles to bring strength back to the cab.
Building out the loo
Volunteers build out the privy—an essential piece of making the lookout site functional again.
Ready for service
Repaired, refreshed, and ready for service, the lookout begins a new chapter of watchful stewardship.