The Olson Firetower was built in 1922 by the state of West Virginia, Backbone Mountain was the original site of the state’s very first fire tower. Subsequently, it was transferred to the Monongahela National Forest and remained in service until 1963 when it was replaced.

Perched atop the mountain, Olson Tower offers visitors the chance to ascend 133 steps for awe-inspiring panoramic views. While the cabin at the top is not accessible to the public, you’re welcome to climb up to just below it. From this vantage point, you can behold breathtaking vistas of Parsons town, the Blackwater Canyon, Otter Creek Wilderness, Canaan Mountain, and the Cheat River watershed.

Olson Tower can be found on Backbone Mountain in Tucker County, reaching an elevation of approximately 3,736 feet above sea level. Accessible for most of the year via a dirt road, the area also features a variety of trails, including the 3-mile-long Canyon Rim Trail #117, which begins just 0.1 miles below the picnic area, and the 4.1-mile Limerock Trail #142, located along Forest Road 18.