Ludlow Fire Tower via Tower Road (Ludlow State Forest)

Ludlow Fire Tower via Tower Road (Ludlow State Forest)

Hike Type: Figure-8 Lollipop Loop

Distance: 0.90 miles

Elevation: 164 feet

Time: 18 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Massachusetts Fire Tower Challenge (11 and 45), Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge

The Hike 

And for once, I'm not driving up to NH or VT to go skiing (I might ski tomorrow TBD)! It's truly time for my annual "go to New Jersey in March becuase my hair is out of control and my mom still cuts my hair" trip! Naturally, I got started early (not ridiculously, though) at 5:00am and had two stops planned: 1) the Ludlow Fire Tower for the Massachusetts Fire Tower Challenge (both the counties and individual towers challenges) and 2) Beebe Hill for the Taconic 12er Challenge. I made it to the Ludlow Tower Road around 6:30am. It was a chilly 24 degrees, but I knew it was going to be a short, easy hike.

I had my hiking pants, long sleeve, fleece, and nano puff on. I left my pack in the car since it was so short and swapped my camera wrist clutch for a neck strap (which I bought years ago and JUST remembered I had) and got started, ushered in by the SCREAMS of a nearby rooster. There's not designated parking, but there's also no "no parking" signs on the side of the road. Plan was to hike the road up and down!

The road was a wide, dirt access road that wound it's way up 0.4 miles to the top. I noticed shortly after entering the woods that there was a red-blazed trail on the left - interesting! I then noticed the power line was also clearly a used trail that skipped a few turns in the road - interesting!

Before I knew it, I was at the top! It was just before sunrise, so I hiked a few laps around the fence around the tower until I could see the sun. There was a survey disc at a footing of the tower, but it was fenced off (still counts!). The sun poked through a cloud, and I was satisfied! I also noticed three more blazed trails off the top. Going clockwise from the road, orange, green, and blue. I scoured the internet and can't find any information on them, so I didn't extend my hike just incase.

I followed the power line down just to mix things up, and it was covered in needle ice. Soon enough, I was back on the road and back at the car! It would be a little over an hour to my next stop - this was a great start to my day!

Step-by-Step

- Park at junction of Tower Road and Margaret Lane.

- Start hike by following Tower Road.

- Circle the fire tower a few times for fun.

- Descend first via power line, and then via Tower Road. 

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