There is a fire control observation tower off Makaha Ridge Road on the island of Kauai (in the vicinity of Waimea Canyon). The tower is near the Milolii Vista and the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility at Makaha Ridge. Though we are not apprised of the official purpose of the tower, we assume the tower is an observation post for wildfire management. The tower has commanding views of the Waimea Canyon/Kokee State Park area. Kauai’s west side is drier than the rest of the island and wildfires do occur infrequently in the area.
On the day of our visit the gate to the fence surrounding the tower was open, however we did not attempt to climb the tower due to wet and slippery conditions (and also because we were unsure of access rights).
The area around the tower is lightly forested and is used by hunters and 4WD enthusiasts. Beware of steep drop offs in the vicinity at Kopakaka Ridge.
Fire Control Tower Kauai Location
The tower can be found just off Makaha Ridge Road down a dirt road. The location is:
Latitude: N 22°7’33.64619″ (22.126013)
Longitude: W 159°43’1.78331″ (-159.717162)
(Accurate to 22m)
Location at Google Maps
Fire Control Tower Photos
We heard gunshots in the area on our visit and wondered if we should be wearing bright clothing.
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