Devil's Head Lookout is a historic fire lookout tower in the Pike National Forest, reached by a 1.4-mile trail that is pretty much all up hill. The trail climbs through mixed aspen and pine forest with granite outcrops along the way, and the final approach is a set of steep stairs bolted to the rock face up to the tower itself. From the top, you get an unobstructed 360 degree panorama that stretches out endlessly clear day, with Pikes Peak and Mount Evans both visible. The combination of the small weathered tower, the exposed granite summit, and that enormous view makes this a very rewarding photography adventure. Shoot the tower against open sky for a clean subject with strong contrast, or use the stairs and rock formations on the approach for leading lines and a sense of scale. The aspens along the trail are excellent in autumn when the colour peaks. Morning light is best for shooting eastward across the plains, and late afternoon works well for the mountain views to the west. The trail is popular in summer, so arriving early helps if you want the tower to yourself. Rampart Range Road is a seasonal gravel road and closes in winter, so check conditions before heading out. Lightning is a real concern at this elevation, especially in afternoon, so plan your timing with weather in mind. (Sedalia, Colorado, USA)
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