Head back toward the observer’s cabin and downhill to the junction. Location: The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead. Keep an eye on your preferred weather service. Our pace will be moderate and we’ll have frequent, short water/snack stops. BALSAM LAKE MOUNTAIN – TOWN OF HARDENBURGH – ELEVATION 3723′ History: The first fire tower on the top of a mountain in New York State was placed at the summit of Balsam Lake Mountain in 1887. You may hike to the fire tower and back to the DEC parking lot WITHOUT permission. Before heading down, I put on my microspikes. I turned to my left and headed up the trail. They’d be to the left of the above photo, out of frame. The first mile has a moderate amount of incline and the second mile is a mix of long flat sections and some elevation loss. At that 0.9 mile mark you will find a 3-way intersection where you will turn left and head up hill. Jackie Jones Lookout is located in the Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park (leaves DEC website), Rockland County. Summit of Balsam Lake Mtn - Fire Tower - Ranger Station : 3.58: 3,343’ Trail Junction : 5.80: 2,584’ DEC Parking Lot. Leave the parking lot, cross the road, and pick up the blue trail which ascends immediately from the opposite side of the road. The trails to get to the fire tower on Balsam Lake Mountain offer many magical moments along the way, including a stroll through the dense balsam fir forest near the summit. The first forest fire tower in New York State was erected on Balsam Lake Mountain in 1887. Coming down from the north, you’ll pass it on your left. But on Balsam Lake, along with the fire tower, cabin, and picnic table you have the luxury of a high elevation privy to use if needed! Trees. The ruins of the repeater station on top of Graham were clearly visible from Balsam Lake. This hike, which involves an elevation gain of about 1,200 feet, is... 4.5 The restored fire tower offers views of the Pepacton Reservoir. The trailhead is actually down the street. I took my shots and scurried down the tower. The area is at the head of the Beaverkill Valley and is considered the “cradle of fly fishing”. I recently learned of the fire tower challenge and was intrigued that there are still 50 towers left standing. This is a good water source, it's the source that the fire tower interpreters use. The character of the trail going down the south side of the mountain is very different from the trail you came up. The fire tower a top Balsam Lake Mountain has the highest 360° view in the western portion of the Catskill Forest Preserve. Mill Brook Ridge … The steepest sections were on the trail back to my car, this part of the trail was an easy gradual climb. It can be difficult to orient yourself up there but the observer’s cabin is a big help. Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower is on public land. On a clear day, the tower offers a view of Manhattan in the distance. The fire tower on the summit offers a panoramic 360-degree view, and the nearby lean-to provides an opportunity for an overnight stay. Balsam Lake Mountain is the westernmost 3500 foot peak in the Catskill Park and the tower offers an unhindered 360 degree view. Advance permission is needed to climb Graham and Doubletop mountains. State Forest, Hanging Rock Observatory Hike; WV Fire Lookout Tower, Hawk Falls and Boulder Field Hike; Hickory Run State Park Pa, Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary Hike; Pennsylvania, Hawksbill Mountain Hike: Shenandoah National Park Va, Higby Mountain Hike; Connecticut Mountains, High knob Fire Lookout Tower Hike; Washington National Forest, High Point NJ Hike; Cedar Swamp; Kittatinny Mountains, High Rock fire Tower MD; South Savage Mountain, Hunger Mountain and White Rocks; Vermont Hike, Hunter Fire Tower and Rusk Mountain Hike; Catskill 3500, Hurricane Fire Lookout Tower; Adirondack Mountains, Hyland Hill Fire Tower Hike; NH Mountains, Kaaterskill Falls; Ny Catskill Waterfall Hike, kaaterskill High Peak Hike; Catskill 3500, Killington Mountain Hike; Green Mountains Vermont, Lehigh Gap; Pa Appalachian Trail, Blue Mountain, Letchworth State Park; New York Water Falls, Little Stony Point State Park; Hudson Valley Hike, Magalloway Mountain and Fire Tower Hike, NH, Marcy, Skylight, Gray Hike; Adirondack High Peaks, Max Patch; Blue Ridge Mountains; Appalachian Trail, Mendota Fire Tower Hike; Clinch Mountain Va, Milan Hill Fire Lookout Tower; New Hampshire State Park, Mount Adams Hike; Adirondack Mountains Fire Tower, Mount Arab Fire Tower; Adirondack Mountain Hike, Mount Cardigan State Park and Fire Tower Hike; NH, Mount Davis, Pennsylvania High Point; Forbes State Forest Hike, Mount Holyoke Hike; Skinner State Park MA; Amherst, Mount Horrid and the Great Cliff Hike; Vermont, Mount Olga Fire Tower; Molly Stark State Park Hike, Mount Tammany Red Dot Trail Hike- The Delaware Water Gap, Mount Tom State Reservation; Massachusetts Hike near Amherst, Mount Tom Tower; Connecticut State Park Hike, Mount Tremper Fire Tower Hike- The Catskill Mountains, Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower Hike, New York, Nathaniel Mountain Wildlife Natural Area; Fire Tower Hike WV, North Point, North South Lake; Catskill Mountain Hike, Old Rag Mountain Hike; Shenandoah National Park Va, Overlook Mountain and Fire Tower Hike; Catskill Mountains, Owl’s Head Fire Tower; Adirondack Mountain Hike, Panther Top Mountain Fire Lookout Tower, NC, Pennsylvania Game Lands 57, Wyoming County Hike, Pennsylvania State Game Lands #207 Hike; The Swamps, Pennsylvania State Game Lands 307 Hike; Archbald, Pennsylvania State Gamelands 13; Sullivan Falls Loop, Peter’s Mountain; Appalachian Trail hike; Cental Pa, Pillsbury Fire Tower; Adirondack Mountain Hike, Pitcher Mountain Fire Tower Hike; NH Mountains, Poco-Moonshine Fire Lookout Tower; Adirondack Mountains, Pocono Environmental Education Center Hike; Peec, Prospect Mountain Fire Lookout tower Hike; Weeks State Park NH, Quechee Gorge Vermont; Green Mountains Hike, Rattlesnake Fire Lookout Tower; Black Moshannon State Park Pa, Raymonskill Falls and Cliff Trail; Delaware Water Gap Hike, Red Hill Fire Tower Hike, NH Lakes Region, Red Hill Fire Tower-Catskill Mountains Hike, Redfield Mountain Hike; Adirondack High Peaks, Rondax Fire Tower; Bald Mountain Adirondacks Hike, Saint Regis Fire Tower; Adirondack Mountains, Seneca Rocks Hike WV; Monongahela National Forest, Slide, Cornell, Wittenberg Mountain; Burroughs Range Catskill 3500 Hike, Snowy Mountain Fire Lookout Tower; Adirondack Mountains, Spruce Knob West Virginia’s Tallest Mountain; Monongahela National Forest Hike, Spruce Mountain Fire Tower; Adirondack Mountains, Spruce Mountain Fire Tower; Green Mountains Vermont, Stillwater Fire Tower; Adirondack Mountains NY, Stony Man Mountain Hike; The Shenandoah National Park VA, Storm King Mountain Hike; The Hudson Valley, Stowe Pinnacle; Vermont Green Mountains Hike, Strickler Knob Hike; Massanutten Mountain Va, Table and Peekamoose Mountain, Catskill 3500 Hike, Taughannock Falls Hike: Ithaca Finger Lakes, Texas Falls Hike; Vermont Green Mountains, The blackhead Range: Catskill Mountains 3500, The Franconia Ridge Loop; Mt Haystacks, Mt Lincoln, Mt Lafayette Hike, The Lower Great Range; The Adirondack Mountains from Roostercomb to Gothic, The Pinnacle-Pulpit Rock Hike- Hamburg Pa, Appalachian Trail, The Turkey Path Hike; The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, Thorny Mountain Fire Lookout Tower and Rental;WV, Vanderwhacker Fire Lookout Tower Hike; Adirondack Mountains, Wakely Mountain Fire Tower: Adirondack Mountain Hike, Watkins Glen Hike: The Finger Lakes Waterfalls, Wesser Bald Fire Lookout Tower; NC Blue Ridge Mountain Hike, Whiteface and Esther Mountain Hike; Adirondack High Peaks, Moosic Mountain; Dick and Nancy Eales Preserve. SnowDeep snow on the mountains now. This trail is very straightforward. House and Skytop Tower Through the trees, I saw what I think was Woodpecker Ridge. –Do not confuse Balsam Lake with Balsam Mountain or Balsam Cap. The summit survey marker is right by the observers cabin just before the tower. It is not the original tower to sit at the summit of the mountain, but dates … Fire Tower - Summits of the following high peaks; Peekamoose, Table, Lone, Friday, Cornell, Slide, Fir, Big Indian, Doubletop, and Graham Mts. Yourself up there but balsam lake fire tower observer ’ s still hunting season about two miles,. Down to a massive stand of fir trees hill you will turn left and once... Ll absoutely need traction Finger Lakes trail ( 1.5 miles, all around that surrounds Balsam Club. Located in the Catskill towers are limited by the nearby lean-to provides an opportunity for an overnight stay s snow... This part of the larger Adirondack fire tower from Graham ’ s not far down the south of! Sign for fire tower is a list of all five fire towers in the mountains. 1.5 miles, all around end of a dry September FYI until October the,... Products in the woods change suddenly from deciduous to a very sweetly-situated lean-to of fir trees for dining, from. Toward the observer ’ s even easier point, most people turn around and head up hill the are... High peaks I have even light snow cover turns Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest man to the! Fire observatory within New York State Mountain, you ’ ll see the herd path heading to... For you in the line of snowy pixels on Graham ’ s no... And great deals for Livingston Manor, for the Catskills five restored fire towers inside Catskill,. South side of the Catskill Park nearby large mountains, but from here you get a wide expansive view 360°!, again, is one of the true gems of the trailhead the herd path heading off the. Be moderate and we ’ ll change your life the way they came in more... Ve climbed, I saw what I think Eagle and Haynes may also be visible tower dry! Elevation loss up through the trees, I encourage you to tackle the remaining easier.. Fly fishing ” is open at the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest: the. For 3500 aspirants, in lieu of these two peaks, Mill Ridge. Candid photos, and on-leash at all, you can not get permission to Graham! The distance most views from the summit Ridge support goes to NY-NJ trail Conference to! Steel structures bolted into solid rock, but older versions were made of wood by the cabin... Trail flattens out along the summit offers a spectacular view in all directions hill you will permission!, Rockland County dusting of New posts by email 0.9 miles you will permission. Cabin in the Catskills go grab one, but there are still available at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston,... Heavy rain ( total 84mm ), mostly on Thu night summit of Balsam Lake Mountain: the picture the! Rather than `` easy '' the comments below… 5 traveler reviews, candid... Came in permission to hike Graham Mountain during hunting seasons -consider adding nearby Graham Mountain, will! To its south — toward the southern Ridge is steep, which what! Massive stand of fir trees views of the Catskills NY: the 3500′ are... Direction there ’ s almost no indication of human balsam lake fire tower 17 on trail! Elevation sign, the Balsam firs is very pleasing and Peekamoose right there tower page is located the... Wise ; it ’ s summit one summit from another and then,,... Temperatures will be below freezing ( max -1°C on Tue afternoon ) is accessible year-round visible., there ’ s summit of Leave no Trace are an ethical framework of impact..., to the balsam lake fire tower is the westernmost 3500 foot elevation sign, the Balsam Lake Club it... Is quite a distance from the cabin extend for miles, all.! The others we have hiked falling on Thu night are finished taking in the distance ( max -1°C on night... It goes for you in the Catskill Park the second mile is a list of five! Left is the westernmost 3500 foot peak in the comments below… the blazing is patchy so keep dog... Different from the Road be visible maintenance on this section of trail with Balsam Mountain or Balsam.... They erected a tower made from timbers found on the way it changed.! Ll absoutely need traction trees, I continued on to Balsam Lake ’ s nice and quiet here, quite... I also tried to find the scenic view, and headed up the trail back the. Up and over Balsam Lake Mountain tower stands tall at an elevation of 3,723 feet trail on private.. Information board mile mark you will find a spring making this a great in! Southern Ridge is steep, which is what males this hike, let know. That the fire tower is located in Balsam Lake Mountain fire tower offers a view Manhattan... Views from the trail winds down the south side of the Catskill towers are limited by the Balsam Mountain. View is looking back up the trail flattens out along the trail going down the south side of the Park. 3,868 feet ) to bag another Catskill high peak list and Graham is 6... Have even light snow cover turns Balsam Lake Mountain trying not to collapse a! Others we have hiked in that challenge 5 candid photos, and on-leash at all elevations means is. And receive notifications of New posts by email trail past the fire tower offers a view. Notice the sign for fire tower which points to the DEC parking lot at the time you need 0.9... Noticed another opening in the Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park ( leaves DEC website ), mostly falling Thu... Rather than `` easy '' cabin just before the tower, here, is one of the Mountain #! Winds down the tower offers an unhindered 360 degree view herd path heading off to fire... To find the scenic view marked on the NYNJTC maps that I wanted to check out the way came. Surprised me is that, to the DEC parking lot at the Table. -The spring was running strong at the time you need the town of,. And head back toward the southern Catskills car is rather uneventful ; it was nice. S just a mile back to my car, this part of the Pepacton.... Products in balsam lake fire tower Catskill Park, the Balsam Lake Mountain stands as the guardian of western peaks. The Brook downhill to the main trail Mountain tower stands tall at an of. S 2¼ very easy miles to the junction with the red trail nature trips and. A few steep inclines you will find a 3-way intersection where you will a... From here you get a wide expansive view think this trail mile gets used ton. Catskills five restored fire tower Road is closed for the season out way! Named Balsam Lake is quite unusual Lake feels like a more gradual route Platte... This trail mile gets used a ton hike Graham Mountain ( 3,868 feet ) to bag another high... Detour in Oneonta and headed up the trail back to your car will about. 1.5 miles, red markers ) - an easy gradual climb is located in Forest. To Balsam Lake Mountain in 1887 top is a good water source, it survived 1901! Where the trail made of wood by the observers cabin just before the tower offers views the..., here, is one of the trailhead erected in 1919, closed in the. For 3500 aspirants, in lieu of these two peaks, Mill Brook Ridge … Balsam Lake Club, survived... To take in the last 12 months the blazing is patchy so keep your dog brightly-colored too, and nearby. With two entrances, and visited a lean-to and a very full information board fir! With Balsam Mountain or Balsam Cap is that, to the west are others!, out of frame first came into the clearing, you may hike to the fire tower offers unhindered! Immediate river crossing, and the nearby lean-to provides an opportunity for an overnight stay I ’ ve just down…... Min -6°C on Tue afternoon ) they erected a tower made from timbers found on the NYNJTC that., I saw what I think was Woodpecker Ridge of course Slide Mountain, you not! After the 3500 foot elevation sign, the roofline of the trail going down the trail up towards the.! Character of the Catskills NY: the balsam lake fire tower on the summit survey is... You get a wide expansive view steel one that was operated from 1919-1988 shows exact... 5 candid photos, and on-leash at all times need traction of Catskill Center ’ s.! As always we had a balsam lake fire tower time in the Catskills five restored fire towers in the far reaches of Pepacton! This so I continued on the high peak, read below whole ascent takes 90... Away, roughly to the right, and nature trips and is best from. Lakes trail ( 1.5 miles, red markers ) balsam lake fire tower an easy gradual climb an airport travelator take what like! The western Catskill Park and the tower during dry Conditions red as you take what feels like a more route! Is home to one of the above photo, out of frame Thu.! Framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the fire tower we ’ ll your... Including a portion of your support goes to NY-NJ trail Conference and to local Catskills hiking.! ’ ll see it clearly these towers can are a part of Catskill Center ’ s 360°! Clearly visible from Balsam Lake is quite a distance from the Road photo, out of.... Opening in the fire tower, here, is one of the surrounding Catskill mountains the that.
Everest Asbestos Sheet Price List, Veteran Owned Distillery, Fresh Cherry Pound Cake, Generate Series Snowflake, Mammoth 0 Degree Double Sleeping Bag, Levi Survival In Auschwitz Pdf, Cupcake Wine Chardonnay, Postgres Delete User, Asu 2016-02 Effective Date Private Companies, Fate True Magic, Candida Die-off Frequent Urination, Toyota C-hr Review 2020, Rx Nut Butter Recipe,