By Shannon Lukens. Photo of Hahns Peak Lookout courtesy Randy Landstraat.
The historic Hahns Peak Lookout in North Routt County is being restored by Historic Routt County and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. The restoration to the building is being funded by the U.S. Forest Service. All wood will be sanded and stain, the wood stars and window trim will be repaired and the graffiti will be removed. The project begins today and should take a week.
The Hahns Peak Lookout was a stone shelter built in 1908, and then rebuilt in 1938. It was an Aircraft Warning site during World War II. It is now a permanent lookout tower.
Press Release from Historic Routt County; July 2025.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Historic Routt County and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps Restore Historic Hahns Peak Lookout STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colorado – July 17, 2025 – Historic Routt County (HRC) will join forces with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) to restore the historic Hahns Peak Lookout in a project funded by US Forest Service (USFS), Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests. The Lookout is listed on the Routt County Historic Register, and all preservation treatments will be made according to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation.
A ten-member crew from RMYC, under the direction of Field Supervisor Eric Baker, founder of Harvest Skis, will tackle preservation of the historic structure. The project begins Monday, July 21st and is expected to conclude in one week. The crew will sand and stain all wood elements, repair wooden stairs and window trim, and remove graffiti. Kristen Rockford, Executive Director of Historic Routt County, said, “We are proud to work with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to repair and rehabilitate this beloved historic lookout while cultivating a preservation ethic in our youth and community.”
The first Lookout on Hahns Peak was a stone shelter built by the USFS in 1908. Four years later, more than one ton of cement and building materials were packed up the 10,839 foot extinct volcano to build a permanent lookout tower. The structure was rebuilt in 1938, enlarged in 1942, and served as an Aircraft Warning Service site during World War II. After the Lookout was decommissioned in 1946, it fell into disrepair.
In 2014, Colorado Preservation Inc. listed the Hahns Peak Lookout as one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places. Historic Routt County, Historicorps, and the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps partnered to preserve and restore the structure between 2014 and 2017. The project was funded in part by a History Colorado State Historical Fund grant and a Routt County Museum and Heritage Fund Advisory Board Capacity Building Grant.
Hahns Peak is named in honor of Joseph Henn, a German immigrant who discovered gold on the mountain in 1862. Paul Knowles, the Assistant Director at the Museum of Northwest Colorado in Craig, Colorado, believes that prospector Joseph Henn’s thick German accent may have resulted in the confusion around the pronunciation and spelling of his name.
Rockford says, “The public benefit of the preservation of the lookout is immeasurable, bringing heritage tourists to Routt County who are attracted to our historic resources and cultural landscapes. It is enjoyed by hikers, geologists, volcanologists, mining history and outdoor enthusiasts. They are rewarded with eye-popping views at nearly 11,000 feet above sea level from the platform of this early 20th-century landmark.”
For information on how you can support local preservation efforts, visit www.HistoricRouttCounty.org or call 970-875-1305.
About Historic Routt County: Since 1997, Historic Routt County has been dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Routt County’s rich history, ensuring that its historic sites remain an integral part of the community’s future. Through advocacy, education, and partnerships, the organization works to cultivate a preservation ethic in Routt County and protect the character and heritage of this unique Colorado region.