The Overlook Mountain Fire Tower, at the top of Overlook Mountain high above the Village of Woodstock offers a stunning vista of the Hudson Valley to the east and the Catskill Mountains to the west. To reach the summit and the Fire Tower from the Woodstock area, the very popular Overlook Spur Trail is the best route to hike.
The Overlook Spur Trail is well-marked, follows an old road, and is relatively accessible, making it suitable for hikers of various skill levels. It’s 2.5 miles from the trailhead to the summit of Overlook Mountain, making for a 5 mile round-trip hike.
The trail begins at the Overlook Mountain Trailhead, located on Meads Mountain Road in Woodstock. There is a small parking area available, but it does fill up quickly during peak times. When we showed up for our evening hike there were only a few cars, but we have seen this lot very full. There’s a second parking lot a bit further down Meads Mountain Road with a short trail that brings you to this trailhead.
Just past the trailhead kiosk where you’ll find information about the trail and the area, is the trail register. Be sure to sign in as these logs are used in case of emergencies and help the State know how many people are hiking in particular areas. The trail follows the well maintained and well-marked dirt road. The road/trail starts off climbing gently, but becomes more strenuous as it makes its way up Overlook. The trail stays well-maintained and easy to follow. There are a few paths and roads that are not as well maintained that branch off the main trail, so be sure to keep an eye out for trail markers and signs.
Less than a mile from the summit, you’ll encounter the remains of the Overlook Mountain House, a former hotel that burned down in the early 20th century. You can walk through most of the ruins, just be careful as you make your way through as there are loose stones and sudden drops in some areas. This area of Overlook Mountain is also home to rattlesnakes and they do like to nest and sun themselves in the ruins. It is best to be extra careful.
After the ruins, and the cellular tower just above them, the trail becomes steeper and narrower as you hike towards the fire tower. As you near the summit, the trail levels off, and you’ll soon reach the cabin below the Overlook Mountain Fire Tower. It’s a short walk from the cabin up to the open area of the summit where the Fire Tower sits. Climb the tower for panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains, Hudson Valley, and beyond.
Moe and I timed our hike so we arrived about a half an hour before the sunset began, giving us time to enjoy a snack, climb the fire tower, and get into position for the best view of the sunset (which is from the Fire Tower itself).
Since this is an in and out hike, you descend along the same trail you came up. Just as it was a stead ascent, it’s a steady descent so exercise caution on the rocky and gravely sections and watch your step. For a sunset hike, a headlamp is a must, as it quickly gets dark after the sunset. This is moderate hike without any difficult trail sections, just a long steady climb. The total hike is about 5 miles roundtrip and takes between 3 to 4 hours depending on how quickly you hike. You’ll gain about 1360 feet of elevation along the hike too.
Catskills Fire Tower Challenge
The Overlook Mountain Fire Tower is part of the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge, which is an outdoor adventure and hiking initiative that encourages people to get out and explore the Catskill Park while visiting and climbing the fire towers located on peaks within the Park. To complete the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge, you must to hike to the fire towers on five Catskill Mountains, and to the fire tower at the Catskills Visitor Center, each offering unique views and experiences. The following six fire towers are located in in the Catskill Park:
- Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower
- Hunter Mountain Fire Tower
- Overlook Mountain Fire Tower
- Red Hill Fire Tower
- Tremper Mountain Fire Tower
- Upper Esopus Fire Tower
For more information
You can find this hike on:
- The NYNJ Trail Conference’s Catskill Trails Map Set
- National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated Map for the Catskill Park
- Catskill Trails Guidebook from ADK
- Hiking the Catskills Guidebook
- Guide to the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge
Additional Catskill Park information available at the Catskills Visitor Center (5096 Route 28 in Mt. Tremper)
Hike On Guides: Need help on a hike like this? Moe is a NYS licensed hiking and backpacking guide. You can hire him for Outdoor Hiking, Backpacking and Camping Guide Services at Hike On Guides for hikes in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Gear we used and/or carried on this hike:
- Goodr Sunglasses
- Osprey Talon 22 Pack
- Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack
- Altra Lone Peak Shoes
- Deliberate Life Designs Hiking Sandals
- Darn Tough Midweight Hiking Socks
- Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles
- Patagonia Nine Trails Shorts
- EMS Men’s Essential Peak Tank
- Hiker Trash Husbands Trucker Hat
- Energizer LED Headlamp
- NEMO Chipper Reclaimed Closed-Cell Foam Seat Pad
- Nalgene 32-ounce Wide-Mouth Water Bottles
- Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
- CNOC Vecto Water Container
- Garmin Instinct Watches
- Garmin InReach Explorer+ GPS
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Jeff Senterman 