The Old Fire Tower, known locally as the Guardian of the Gulch, stands above downtown Helena as a reminder of the fires that threatened the early mining town. The present lookout dates to the 1870s and 1880s, when watchmen scanned Last Chance Gulch for smoke and sounded the alarm before a small blaze could become a city disaster.
Today the tower is as much a viewpoint as a relic. The walk up is short but steep enough to make the view feel earned, with downtown below and the hills closing in around Helena. It pairs naturally with Last Chance Gulch, Reeder's Alley, and the city's other gold-rush-era landmarks.