Red Hill Fire Tower (Catskill Park)
Hike Type: Out-and-Back
Distance: 3.84 miles
Elevation: 1155 feet
Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Catskill Firetowers
Distance: 3.84 miles
Elevation: 1155 feet
Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Catskill Firetowers
The Hike
First hike of being a 27 year old! I had just finished connecting the AT through NJ, so I decided to head slightly north to the Catskills to work on hiking their fire towers. There is a formal fire tower challenge that needs to be completed in the calendar year, but I climbed Hunter last year so I decided to make my own challenge (again). There is a patch for sale that lists the five fire towers in the park, so I decided if I climb to all five in any time frame I earn that patch. First on the list for this day was one I had actually acidentally driven past last year while lost without cell service - Red Hill!
There are two trails to the tower - the newer blue trail and the older yellow trail. I don't know much about the yellow trail, as I took the blue one to the top. The parking area is a gravel lot with a porta potty and register box. I planned to be a good hiker and sign the register, but there was a LARGE spider occupying the area, so I opted out. The temperature was 58 degrees at the beginning and I was DELIGHTED. There were many no tresspassing signs around the trailhead, but the trail is well-blazed and easy to follow so it was no problem. I did all my pre-hike chores and got started!
The first mile+ of the hike was through well-graded, well-blazed, easy to follow trails. I didn't realize the trail was as new as 2021 until I read about it (listed below), so it makes sense that the quality is so high. Really nice hiking! Saw a large deer in the beginning. The trail first meandered through hardwood forests and then winded through massive boulders (that could have definitely served as a shelter for bears but I tried to put that thought in the back of my brain). The trail then goes through a younger stretch of forest before reaching the junction with the old, yellow-blazed trail off of Dinch Road. Just before the junction, I head what would have bad to be the dreaded mountain chicken (grouse) getting mad at me for being too close. I'm not sure if spruce grouses live this far south though? A mystery for sure.
From this junction, the trail becomes more rough, steep, rugged, and eroded. There were a few sections of very loose rock/gravel/dirt, which wasn't my favorite. I also inhaled a bug and thought my life was ending during this section, which wasn't my favorite either. The trail passes a spring that was still running, and eventually reaches the plateau and the summit area.
The summit area was mowed with a cabin, outhouse, picnic tables, and of course, the fire tower. The cabin and outhouse were locked since the fire tower wasn't staffed on this Wednesday. I took a break here to wring out my soaked shirt and climb the tower. The tower was sturdy and had a nice view from the top. Nothing absolutely breathtaking, but I think that I would have been more impressed if the cabin were open. Nice spot to take a few photos, slowly climb down, and begin my return trip.
As with most out-and-back hikes, the return trip was highly uneventful. I swore at the loose rock section a couple times, but I was back to the car quickly. Best part about this hike was that I didn't see another person the whole time.
Step-By-Step
- Start Hike on blue-blazed Red Hill Fire Tower trail on Deming Road.
- At junction with yellow-blazed trail, continue on blue-blazed trail.
- At summit area, climb fire tower, and retrace steps back to car.
"Red Hill Fire Tower Trail" From the Catskill Visitor Website
"A new trail, completed at the beginning of 2021 takes you to the top of Red Hill where you can also climb the Red Hill Fire Tower. Follow the blue-marked Red Hill Tower Trail for 1.4 miles from the trailhead on Denning Road in Claryville, NY. When you reach the junction where a yellow-marked trail meets the blue trail, keep right to follow the blue trail to the Red Hill Fire Tower summit for 0.6 miles. This is an out-and-back hike, total roundtrip mileage is 4.0 miles, and elevation gain is 1200′.
This 60-foot fire tower was constructed in 1921 and is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register and has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. The Red Hill Fire Tower offers an unsurpassed view of the Catskill High Peaks to the west and north, along with the Roundout Reservoir to the southeast. The tower was reopened to the public in 2000 in a restoration effort by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The trail is part of Sundown Wild Forest, land managed by the NYSDEC."
"Red Hill Fire Tower" from NYDEC
"The Red Hill Fire Tower stands 60 feet tall, has nine flights of stairs, and was constructed in 1921. Follow the blue-marked Red Hill Tower Trail for 1.4 miles from the trailhead on Denning Road in Claryville, NY which will accommodate up to 10 cars. Follow the blue-marked Red Hill Tower trail for 1.4 miles where it intersects with the yellow-marked trail. Turn right and stay on the blue-marked trail for .6 mile that leads to the summit. Moderate 4 mile, round-trip hike. Elevation gain is approximately 1200′.Trailhead address is: 2205 Denning Rd, Claryville, NY 12725 GPS coordinates: 41.935139, -74.529389"
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