Smith Mountain Fire Tower, Piedmont Plateau Travel Guide

Standing tall on the highest point of Lake Martin's shoreline, the Smith Mountain Fire Tower is a historic landmark offering visitors breathtaking 360-degree views. Erected in 1939 as a collaborative project 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 the creation of Lake Martin in 1926, the area around Smith Mountain was heavily timbered and prone to erosion. To combat this, Alabama Power partnered with various organizations to reforest the land, leading to the construction of a fire detection network, with Smith Mountain as its first tower and district office. For nearly 40 years, watchmen kept guard over the forests, signaling fire crews using a hand-cranked telephone system.In 1980, aerial patrols and improved telephone service made the tower obsolete, and it was eventually closed. Falling into disrepair, the site became a dumping ground until 2010 when CRATA acquired the title and began restoring it. Today, the fully restored tower welcomes visitors to climb its 111 steps and enjoy the stunning vistas of Lake Martin and the Talladega National Forest. Informational exhibits at the base of the tower detail the area's natural history, ecosystems and cultural landscapes.Several hiking trails surround the tower, offering various levels of difficulty and scenic views. The Walker Bynum Smith Mountain Tower Trail provides a steep, 0.4-mile climb to the tower. The Lakeshore Trail winds along the lake's shoreline, while the Little Smith Mountain Loop Trail offers more challenging terrain with rewarding views.