Breckenridge Lookout

Location: Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest - 760-376-5646

Lat/Long: 35.45100°N / -118.583°W

Elevation: 7,548

Active Fire Lookout

Breckenridge Lookout is located in the Sequoia National Forest, Kern River Ranger District, and is the southernmost lookout on the Sequoia National Forest. The lookout is staffed full-time during fire season and generally open to the public.

The original Breckenridge lookout was a "crow’s nest" lookout built in the top of an 87 foot tall tree in 1912. This tree still stands near where the current lookout is situated. In 1931 a wooden lookout tower was built near the tree, but not in the same position as the current lookout structure.

The 1931 tower was replaced in 1942 by the structure that stands today. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and is on the National Historic Lookout Register. During World War II Breckenridge Lookout was used by the Aircraft Warning Service to watch for enemy aircraft.

On a clear day you can see Breckenridge Mountain from Bakersfield...just look toward the east and it's pretty much the highest mountain you can see. Breckenridge is home to many sought-after species of animals including the Spotted Owl, White-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and the very rare Breckenridge Mountain Slender Salamander.

The flora consists of typical Sierra mixed conifer species including Ponderosa and Sugar Pine, white fir, with an understory of black oak, manzanita, and chinquapin.

Breckenridge is one of California's 50 finest peaks, #35 in fact, with a prominence of 3,271'[PAD1] above the surrounding landscape.

Click here to find links to webcams pointed in different directions from Breckenridge Mountain.

For more information, check out the Buck Rock Foundation website at www.buckrock.org/index.html