Milan Fire Tower, Milan NH


• 3-star hike
• 0 to 1 mile part-loop
• Easy | Gain 0 to 130 feet
• Milan, NH | Great North Woods
.   NHFT   Tall metal fire lookout tower with a small enclosed observation room at the top, supported by diagonal braces and guy wires, surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Perched on a hilltop in northern New Hampshire, Milan Hill State Park serves as a gateway to panoramic views spanning four regions. The park's primary attraction is its 1932 fire tower, which provides a central vantage point for the surrounding landscape.

The 45-foot-tall fire tower stands as the park's focal point. Still in active service at times, the cabin of this watchtower is locked when not in operation. However, the platform at the top of the stairs below the cabin still offers sweeping views in all directions, including the White Mountains to the south and the Mahoosuc Range extending northward into Maine.

This is one of over twenty standing fire towers in New Hampshire, all of which are mapped and linked on our Trailspotting Fire Tower List. See the link at the bottom of the page for more details, and for information about the New Hampshire Fire Tower Quest Patch that can be earned.
3★ Milan Fire Tower Loop   0.9 mi part-loop, easy, gain 130 ft
GPX File · Directions GPX?
 P  Free State Park parking. Donation requested.

The tower can be reached without a hike by driving directly up the park's unpaved road to the top of the hill, near the tower. However, those seeking a brief hike can begin at the Nansen Ski Club parking area and follow the park road up to the summit, where it loops around the tower.

Milan Hill State Park also operates as a primitive camping destination with six campsites available for overnight stays. The park has recently added four yurts to its accommodation options, expanding beyond traditional tent camping. Both camping sites and yurts require advance reservations. During winter months, the Nansen Ski Club maintains groomed cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails throughout the park area. If you have time, you should also check out the club's historic ski jump just five miles away - see our 'Trailspotting Nearby' link below for more details.

Person in a red shirt and cap walking alone on a gravel path through a sun-dappled forest. Tall green trees and ferns line the trail, with sunlight filtering through the canopy and casting soft shadows on the ground, evoking a peaceful, contemplative atmosphere.
You can hike the park road to the summit, if you want to.

iew from a fire tower overlooking a vast forested landscape, with white railings and metal beams in the foreground. Dense green trees stretch across rolling terrain, fading into distant blue mountains under a partly cloudy sky. The scene conveys a sense of elevation, solitude, and expansive wilderness.
The Percy Peaks are among the superb views in all directions.

Side-by-side image of two tall towers in forested settings. On the left, a fire lookout tower with a metal frame, multiple platforms, and an enclosed observation room at the top, surrounded by trees and a grassy clearing. On the right, a telecommunications tower with a narrow metal lattice structure and several antennas, set against dense forest, rolling hills, and a partly cloudy sky.
The two towers of Milan Hill.

Tangents:
• Official: NH State Parks
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New Hampshire Fire Towers
New Hampshire Fire Towers
Discover our map of fire towers and the trails to find them.

Rail Trail Map of New Hampshire
New Hampshire Rail Trails
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