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!
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!
