Monjeau Lookout Tower

Monjeau Lookout was completed in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps to serve as a fire lookout tower within Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, United States, and remains in active use as a destination for forest visitors.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Monjeau Lookout was originally built in 1936, then reconstructed in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Its impressive stone structure managed to survive the 2012 Little Bear Fire, although the landscape is only now recovering.

A 5.5 mile National Forest dirt road north of Ruidoso leads to this old stone lookout hut offering scenic mountain views. The drive is steep and adventurous, but there are three parking and camping areas a mile or two below the Lookout. The last mile or so of NF117 going up to the Monjeau Lookout is sometimes closed. When that is the case, no vehicle traffic goes to the top and the restroom at the top may also be closed.

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