Once used by the local authorities as fire, safety and observation lookouts, the famed fire towers of the Adirondacks beckon adventurous souls to climb these lofty lookouts and peer across a vast wilderness.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, as a way to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus, as closed access to all NYS DEC Fire Towers until further notice. The trails leading to the Adirondack fire towers listed below are still open, but the towers are not. Please exercise the recommended social distancing guidelines issued by the NYS government and the CDC when using the trails and only recreate locally for the time being. The information below can be used as a resource, for now, to plan future fire tower hikes in the Adirondacks when restrictions are lifted. Until then, please stay safe.
Hiking to Azure's Fire Tower: This 2-mile round-trip hike is a moderate one. The trailhead is located about 30 miles south of the Village of St. Regis Falls, about seven miles down Blue Mountain Road. Park at the trailhead on the right.
Hiking to Mount Arab's Fire Tower: This 2-mile round-trip hike is a moderate one. Head toward the Village of Tupper Lake on Route 3 and continue to Piercefield. Turn onto Conifer Road and travel two miles to the trailhead. Park on the right.
Hiking to Hurricane Mountain's Fire Tower: This 6.8-mile round-trip hike is moderate. Find the trailhead on Route 9N about 13 miles outside of Keene. Park on the right.
Hiking to Loon Lake Mountain's Fire Tower: This 5.6-mile round-trip hike is moderate-to-difficult with some steep and wet sections. The trailhead is located on County Route 26, about eight miles north of its intersection with State Route 3.
Hiking to Blue Mountain's Fire Tower: This 4-mile round-trip hike is moderate-to-difficult for most hikers, with some open rock and wet areas that can be slippery. Find the trailhead just past Adirondack Experience - The Museum at Blue Mountain Lake on Route 30 toward Long Lake. Park on the right.
Hiking to Bald Mountain's Fire Tower: This hike is less than two miles round-trip, and is moderate and scenic. Trailhead is located on Rondaxe Road north of Old Forge on Route 28. Follow the signs to the trailhead.
Hiking to Woodhull Mountain's Fire Tower: This 15.2-mile round-trip hike is moderate, and can be attempted mostly by bicycle. The trailhead is located on McKeever Road south of Old Forge. A large parking area is located just over a quarter-mile down the road.
Hiking to Kane Mountain's Firetower: There are two trails to the summit, both moderate and both around two miles round-trip. The Green Lake Road trail is the most popular, and the trailhead is located on Green Lake Road, just past the Canada Lake Marina. Park on the right, and the trailhead will be on the left.
Hiking to Lyon Mountain's Firetower: This 5-mile round-trip hike is difficult. From the summit, hikers can see the skyline of Montreal, Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. The trailhead is located off of I-87 Exit 38N. Take 374 west to Chazy Lake Road and drive south for about two miles. Follow the signs to the trailhead.
Hiking to Vanderwhacker Mountain's Firetower: This 5-mile round-trip hike is easy-to-moderate. The trailhead is located on Moose Pond Club Road off of Route 28N north of the Hamlet of North Creek.
Hiking to Belfry Mountain's Firetower: This hike is less than a mile round-trip, and is an easy climb from the trailhead, which is located on Dalton Hill Road in Witherbee.
Hiking to Owl's Head Mountain's Firetower: This 6.2-mile round-trip hike is moderate. The trailhead is located on Endion Road off of Route 30 outside of Tupper Lake.
Hiking to Poke-O-Moonshine's Firetower: This 2.5-mile round-trip hike is moderate. The trailhead is located at the Poke-O-Moonshine State Campground off of Route 9.
Hiking to Goodnow Mountain's Firetower: Just under 4 miles round-trip, this hike is easy. The Trailhead is located on Route 28N, 1.5 miles west of the Adirondack Visitor Interpretive Center in Newcomb.
Hiking to Wakely Mountain's Firetower: This 6-mile round-trip hike is moderate-to-difficult, especially in the last mile to the summit. The trailhead is located just before the Moose River Recreation Area on Route 28.
Hiking Hadley Mountain's Firetower: This 3.6-mile round-trip hike is moderate. The trailhead is located on Rower Road off of Hadley Hill Road in Lake Luzerne. Park on the left.
Hiking to Pillsbury Mountain's Firetower: This 3.2-mile round-trip hike is moderate. The trailhead is located at Sled Harbor Clearing in Speculator.
