McGuire Creek Lookout

Elevation: 2,500+ feet
Hiking Distance: Half mile to 1.5 miles
Access: Excellent Gravel

We find new information about the Fairfax Lookout every year. The area has been harvested at least 3 times, roads have changed, so it has been hard to find anything. I have been to the area four times, each time with new information that I thought would help me find something. A big break was when the Fairfax firefinder map was found in the Foothills Musuem in Buckley. Next found was the location marked on a 1951 Metsker Map. Found next was a 1946 article in the 39th Annual Report of the Washington Forest Fire Association saying "The lookout house at Fairfax, destroyed by fire three years ago, was replaced. As the site is a temporary one, due to shifting activities in the area overlooked, the structure is to be a portable type, being bolted together at the corners, and is capable of being moved when and if necessary." Finally, on a VHS taped interview:

During an interview with Don Lee Frazier, who was the Supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources and started his career in 1936 with the Washington Forest Fire Association, he gave the following story. The lookout was on the ground, and was oriented not to see over the ridge to the Puyallup side. One night, it appeared there was a fire over there but when he called Fred (Don’s Uncle who worked at DNR also), he said St. Paul logging company was burning slash. But the light got brighter and brighter and the lookout got very concerned. At 2 in the morning, Fred decided he better go up with his vehicle and take a look. By the time he got to the Fairfax Bridge, he could see he wouldn’t have time to reach the lookout by the road that switchbacked. There was a foot trail that cut up directly to the lookout, so he took it, got to the lookout just before the fire did. The only thing they were able to save from the contents inside were the accordion of the lookout person. As they ran together from the fire down to the vehicle, they saw the building burning behind them.

The original structure was a ground building that burned down around 1943. A new structure was built in 1946 that was portable. Based on all the documents we have, I'm fairly confident the first structure was placed in the location 3 area (see map below). Maybe some pictures will surface in the future.

There is good parking 1.5 miles after the pavement ends as you head up Hwy 165 in route to the Mowich Lake Entrance. Right were the road makes a sharp turn south. I bushwhacked up to logging roads above. This is private timberlands, probably requiring a permit, but it's a far corner of the tree farm at dead-ends. Choose your own adventure, I put my route on the maps below. Roads are approximate, they have been moved since the USGS was printed.

Looking north up Evans Creek from the highpoint in (Location 3) that makes the most sense for a lookout site

Walking on the new road toward the Y at the tree-clump. Map shows lookout site directly ahead, before the tree-clump. (Location 1) behind the clump.

View south from (Location 1) to (Location 3) hill. RR Grade/Road visible across the base.

Location 1 from the southeast

Location 2 from location 1

The opening at the top of location 2 that had 4 sun-bleached stumps that I thought were footings as I approached!

The stump next to the opening at the summit of location 2.

1951 Metsker Map showing the location at the y intersection of old RR grade

1937 Map showing the railroad dropping down and crossing the Mowich Lake Road

Aerial showing areas checked: yellow dots = routes taken between sites

Location of the Fairfax Lookout

Fairfax Firefinder Map

Pierce County Lidar showing the current and historic disturbances in the area

Spur road using an old railroad cut

In location 3 looking down to the clump

From the top of location 3 looking at Burnt Mountain

Looking down road from top of location 3

From the parking area looking up to the tree clump

Hard to find anything in this

The Pinnacle Peak Lookout folder had the date 1942, 7-1 to 10-14 Jim Thompson on Fairfax Lookout

Older aerial showing the original road/railroad grade better between the current road and the Mowich Lake Road

Most likely location based on Metsker

also called McGuire Creek

Part of a list of State Lookouts in 1942 (shown in center of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 Section 2
Note the F. Fraser, and read the story above by Don Frasier and his uncle Fred Fraser who worked at DNR in the Enumclaw area.

Location of the Fairfax Lookout according to 1942 list

1955 aerial showing the original roads and railroads

AWS document regarding DNR lookouts

Fairfax Lookout Site

Washington Lookout Sites