Fire Tower Hikes

Fire Tower Hikes

Higher, farther, cooler

Discover historic fire towers

Historic fire tower hikes are a great way to go hiking in the Adirondacks while also exploring the history of our region. Fire tower hikes are especially fun for families and children, adding a unique element of discovery to your day of hiking. Once upon a time, the towers were used as lookouts to watch for forest fires. A number are still intact and offer great views for eager hikers. You can even get creative and have fun by challenging yourself to visit all of the fire towers in the Adirondacks! Do it in one vacation or keep coming back!

A fire tower stands out on a mountain summit

Take the Fire Tower Challenge

There are five Hamilton County fire towers:

  • Blue Mountain (Blue Mountain Lake)
  • Owls Head (Long Lake)
  • Pillsbury Mountain (Speculator)
  • Snowy Mountain (Indian Lake)
  • Wakely Mountain (Indian Lake)
  • Bonus tower: visit The Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake and ascend the historic Whiteface Mountain Fire Tower! This one is a fun bonus without a strenuous hike!

All five towers are open to the public. Please be careful when ascending the stairs.

To complete the challenge, you must climb these five mountains, document the date, and fill out a comment for each summit reached. Climbing every tower is not required in order to receive your patch.

Download the Fire Tower Challenge Guide and Instructions.

If you are searching for summit hikes or paths to lakes and ponds, don't worry; we have plenty of those too!


Leave No Trace and Love Your ADK

By taking the Love Your Adirondacks Pledge and practicing Leave No Trace ethics you can help ensure that the forests, waterways, and communities of the Adirondacks remain beautiful and unique for generations to come. Our Hiking 101 page is a great resource to check out before you hit the trail!

Goodnow is a very prominent peak when seen from Route 28N. This ragged-looking mountain is home to one of the remaining fire towers...
Route 28N
Newcomb
12852
  
Owls Head Mountain is part of the Sargent Ponds Wild Forest, which covers an impressive approximate 45,000 acres. This rather...
Endion Road
Long Lake
12847
  
While not part of the Hamilton County Fire Tower Challenge, Bald Mountain is part of the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge and is a...
Rondaxe Road
Inlet
13360
  
For the better part of the last century, Blue Mountain has been one of the most frequently climbed Adirondack mountains. And for...
Route 30
Blue Mountain Lake
12812
  
Snowy is one of the more demanding hikes in Hamilton County and is also one of the 100 highest highest peaks in the Adirondacks....
Route 30
Indian Lake
12842
  
In a quiet corner of the Adirondacks sits Kane Mountain. A 60-foot fire tower was constructed here in 1925, making it a very...
Green Lake Road
Arietta
‎12139
  
Wakely Mountain’s 70-foot tower is one of the highest in New York state, and the tower stairs afford an excellent view of the West...
Cedar River Road
Indian Lake
12842
  
In 1933, a fire tower on Buck Mountain was established on private lands between Long Lake and Tupper Lake. Today, thanks to a...
South Sabattis Road, County Route 10
Long Lake
12847
  
The historic Makomis fire tower has been relocated to the Sacandaga River Community Park in Speculator NY, and is now open to...
State Route 30
Speculator
12164
  
Pillsbury Mountain is one of those peaks that has a spectacular, remote, backcountry feel. A maze of scenic backroads will get you...
Lake Pleasant
12108
  

Newsletter Sign Up