Smith Mountain Fire Tower: A Sentinel Over Lake Martin

Perched atop Smith Mountain, the Smith Mountain Fire Tower offers visitors a rewarding blend of history and stunning natural beauty. Built in 1939 as a cooperative project between the Alabama Power Company, the Tallapoosa County Forest Conservation Association, and the Alabama Forestry Commission, the 90-foot tower served as a crucial fire detection point for over four decades. Initially, the tower was part of a network designed to protect the millions of newly planted trees around Lake Martin, which were planted to combat soil erosion after the lake's creation. The location also housed the district office of the Alabama Division of Forestry. Over time, aerial patrols and improved telephone service diminished the need for fire towers, and the Smith Mountain tower was closed in 1980. In 2010, the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA) acquired the site and began restoring the tower, transforming it into a major tourist attraction. Today, visitors can climb to the top of the tower and enjoy panoramic views of Lake Martin and the surrounding woodlands. The site also features hiking trails, including the steep 0.4-mile Walker Bynum Smith Mountain Tower Trail leading to the tower's base, and the 2.4-mile Lakeshore Trail that winds along the lake's shoreline. The tower is surrounded by a native longleaf pine forest and large granite deposits, making it a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.