In the summer of 1867, Archie McIntosh, chief Army scout for Colonel George Crook, led a group 18 of Warm Springs or Shoshone scouts on a reconnaissance patrol from Old Camp Warner south toward the Surprise Valley looking for a Paiute raiding party led by Chief Ocheho.
In 1952, the Forest Service built a fire lookout tower on Crane Mountain along with a small cabin to serve as the lookout's residence.