New sites added to 2026 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge
Ready for a truly historic, expanded hiking adventure this year with definite views spanning across the region? The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge invites experienced hikers to visit the region’s remaining public fire towers from January 1 through December 31, 2026 – with two additional towers to explore this year.
The fire towers as part of this year’s challenge include Balsam Lake Mountain in Hardenburgh, Hunter Mountain in Hunter, Overlook Mountain in Woodstock, Red Hill Mountain in Denning, Tremper Mountain in Shandaken, Upper Esopus Fire Tower at the Catskills Visitor Center, and – the newest towers added in 2026: Mount Utsayantha in Stamford, and Bramley Mountain in Delhi. (Tip: The fire tower at the Catskills Visitor Center is the easiest-to-reach!)
For over 100 years, more than 100 fire towers sat atop the highest peaks in the Catskill and Adirondack State Forests helping detect dangerous fires that sparked across the region. New York State began to phase out the towers in the 1980s with the last observer ending their watch on the Red Hill Fire Tower in 1990.
In 1997, grassroots volunteers looking to preserve the history of these structures created the Catskill Fire Tower Project as a joint initiative of the The Catskill Center for Conservation & Development, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
To participate in this year’s Catskills Fire Tower Challenge, hikers must fill out the log of completed hikes, and include one favorite photo before January 5, 2027. All finishers will receive a commemorative patch and be entered into the grand prize drawing. (Bonus prize entry if you include a photo that practices Leave No Trace principles.) Over 500 hikers finished last year’s Catskill Fire Tower Challenge.
“These towers are cherished landmarks that offer extraordinary opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to learn about the history of the Catskills while taking in some truly breathtaking views,“ remarked Rohit T. Aggarwala, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Visit https://www.catskillcenter.org/firetowers or the DEC Fire Tower Challenge Page for directions to each tower with trail profiles, and information on how to submit completed hikes.
Related:
Hike and Learn at Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower, March 6, 2026 from 10am to 3pm Moderate to difficult hike, 5.9-miles round trip. https://www.catskillcenter.org/events/hike-learn-balsam-lake-mountain-fire-tower
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