Smith Mountain Fire Tower: A Sentinel Over Lake Martin

Standing tall on the highest point of Lake Martin's shoreline, the Smith Mountain Fire Tower offers visitors a unique blend of history and natural beauty. Erected in 1939 as a collaborative effort between the Alabama Power Company, the Tallapoosa County Forest Conservation Association, and the Alabama Forestry Commission, the tower served as a crucial fire detection point for over four decades.Before Lake Martin was created, the area around Smith Mountain was a desolate landscape of eroding soil. After the lake's completion in 1929, the soil erosion threatened the hydroelectric plant's capacity, leading to a reforestation project by Alabama Power, the Alabama Extension, the Soil Conservation Service, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The fire tower was one of six built to protect the newly planted trees.After being closed in the 1980s and falling into disrepair, the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA) took ownership of the tower in 2010 and restored it. Today, visitors can climb the 111 steps to the top of the tower and enjoy stunning 360-degree views of Lake Martin and the surrounding woodlands. The site also features educational exhibits that showcase the area's natural history, ecosystems, and cultural landscapes.The surrounding area offers several hiking trails, including the Walker Bynum Smith Mountain Tower Trail, a steep 0.4-mile climb to the tower. Other trails include the Lakeshore Trail, the Island Hop/Boat Dock Trail (accessible by boat), and the more challenging Little Smith Mountain Loop Trail.