Day Trip From Butler County: Climbing the Copperhead Fire Tower
- E Todd Fowler
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Sometimes the best view isn’t just at the end of a road —
it’s at the top of a 90-foot climb.
About a two-hour drive from West Chester, hidden deep in one of Ohio’s most peaceful forest landscapes, stands the Copperhead Fire Tower, a steel lookout that offers a 360-degree view of endless treetops and distant rolling hills. It’s a simple day trip, but one that delivers a surprising sense of adventure and perspective.
This isn’t a theme park experience. There are no ticket booths, no paved paths, and no crowds waiting in line. It’s just you, the forest, and a staircase leading into the sky.
📍 Where Is the Copperhead Fire Tower?
The Copperhead Fire Tower is located within the Shawnee State Forest, part of Ohio’s largest continuous forest region. Often called “Ohio’s Little Smokies,” the hills here feel a world away from suburban life in Butler County.
Distance from West Chester: Approximately 2 hours by car (depending on route).
When you arrive, don’t expect a bustling entrance. There’s no gift shop or park attendant, only a gravel pull-off, a few signs, and the towering structure rising above the trees. The quiet makes the moment even better.
Getting There + Parking Tips
There are multiple ways to reach the tower area, but the most reliable routes approach from the Shawnee Lodge region. You’ll follow narrow roads through thick forest, past trailheads and rustic campsites. The roads are generally well-maintained, but slow curves are common, so take your time. Or you can hike Silver Bridle Trail a half mile up hill to the site.
Parking is free and located right next to the tower. You’ll see it as soon as you arrive, steel legs planted firmly into the hillside, with the stairs appearing to disappear upward into the canopy.
The Climb: From Ground to Sky
At the base, the tower looks tall, but it’s only when you take the first few steps that its height becomes real. Every landing gives a little more perspective, trunks shrink, the forest floor becomes patterned shadows, and the air feels lighter with elevation.
The stairs are steel and well-maintained, and while the structure sways slightly in the breeze, it’s sturdy. Take your time climbing. Stop on a few landings to look out between the trees. Each pause gives a new angle of the forest.
At the Top: A View Worth the Drive
Reaching the observation deck is a rush, not because it’s difficult, but because the view hits all at once. Suddenly you’re standing above the canopy, taking in:
✔ A full 360° sweep of forest
✔ Distant hills layered in soft blue hues
✔ Ridges stretching into the horizon
It’s a moment where Ohio looks bigger than expected — more rugged, more wild, and more breathtaking than the everyday view from Butler County suburbia. Standing above it all, the landscape feels endless.
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