I wrote about this several years ago, but it’s worth a repeat. The U.S. Forest service rents out fire lookout towers for hikers interested in a room with a view. The S.F. Chronicle rounded up the California locations, including the newly opened Black Mountain Lookout in Plumas National Forest which comes with the bonus of occasional “sudden outrageous, mammoth explosions” when the army explodes excess bombs at a depot nearby.  Here’s a list of Pacific Northwest lookouts and cabins available. Search recreation.gov for other locations.