Smarts Mountain Lookout

In 1915, this summit was established by the New Hampshire Forestry Commission. At various times the Dartmouth Outing Club made repairs.

In 1917, there were two fire towers, one on the West summit and another on the East summit.

In 1922, the lookout was temporarily discontinued except for emergency use.

Between 1932 and 1934 the Dartmouth Outing Club rebuilt the tower and cabin.

In 1939, a new tower and cabin were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps on west summit with Forest Service funds in response to increased forest fire danger in the wake of the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, which blew down over 600,000 acres of trees in New England. The lookout tower with enclosed cab was constructed according to a standard US Forest Service design from a modular kit with numbered parts manufactured by the International Derrick Company. The tower is 41 feet tall with a 7x7 foot cab.

In 1942, the tower is out of service, but Dartmouth Outing Club leases it from state for one dollar a year and staffs the tower during times of high fire danger.

In 1949, the Dartmouth Outing Club takes over the ground cabin.

In 1950, it was proposed that the tower be taken down and reassembled for a display at the Eastern States Exposition in 1951, this did not happen.

In 1957 the station was reopened by act of the NH Legislature (staffed to 1980)

Around 1960, the Dartmouth Outing Club builds a leanto near the summit because the fire wardens cabin was taken back by the State.

In 1973 is the last year of active service for firetower.

In 1980, the site was transferred to the NH Department of Public Works and Highways.

In 1990, Dartmouth Outing Club puts new roof on the firewarden cabin. Also the nearby leanto is removed, with the location is converted to a tent site.

In 1994, the firetower is refurbished by Dartmouth Outing Club with funds provided by U.S. Forest Service.

In 1996, the cabin was transferred to the Dartmouth Outing Club.

In 2013, the privy wins award in Adventure Journal for one of the 9 most scenic backcountry toilets in America, and the only entry from the Eastern U.S.

In 2014, the tower was closed due to safety concerns.

In 2016, the White Mountain National Forest and HistoriCorps, with support from the Dartmouth Outing Club and Green Woodlands, completed restoration of the fire tower and cabin. They repaired a water-damaged section of the cabin floor and wall, repaired windows, and repainted the cabin. An engineering assessment indicated that the steel tower was in good condition, but the tower roof structure was completely replaced, windows were repaired, the trap door was reinforced, and a lightning protection system was installed.

Today the cabin serves as overnight shelter for hikers on the Appalachian Trail, maintained by the Dartmouth Outing Club. For decades, the summit has been used by hikers camping and climbing the tower to watch sunrise and sunsets. One tent platform is the floor of the old Smarts Mountain shelter.