Overlook Mountain Fire Tower – Catskill Park

March 15, 2025 – Woodstock, NY

Issue: Average – Strenuous

Size: Roughly 5 miles – complete elevation achieve roughly 1,400 ft.

Route sort: Out and Again

Maps: Overlook Mountain Fireplace Tower Path Map – Overlook Mountain Fireplace Tower Map for Avenza

Trailhead parking: 353 Meads Mountain Rd, Woodstock, NY 12498

Moveable Bogs on web site

Warning: Overlook Mountain has the very best inhabitants of Timber Rattlesnakes within the Catskill Mountains. They are often discovered wherever from the parking heaps to the summit of Overlook Mountain, and Echo Lake. The highway to the summit of Overlook Mtn may be very large, so it’s simple to keep away from them. Please keep on the designated trails.

Overview: 

Overlook Mountain is the southernmost peak of the Catskill Escarpment close to Woodstock, NY. The centerpiece of the 590-acre Overlook Mountain Wild Forest space of Catskill Park, the mountain affords a novel mixture: a historic hearth tower, mountain home ruins, and spectacular views of the Hudson River Valley and the central Catskills.

This is likely one of the busiest mountains within the Catskills. The summit of Overlook Mountain is likely one of the prime three most visited areas within the Catskill Forest Protect (after Slide Mountain and North-South Lake). On a typical weekend day within the heat climate, a whole bunch of hikers will make their means up and down the 2-½ mile gravel highway that results in the summit.

The Overlook Wild Forest is a small a part of the Catskill Forest Protect, however a rare a part of American historical past. The realm has lengthy influenced painters, writers and musicians, and performed a outstanding function in creating America’s perspective on nature and wilderness. It’s owned and managed by the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

Parking:

The Overlook Mountain Trailhead, situated on Meads Mountain Street, is probably the most visited trailhead within the southern Catskills. There’s room for about 15-17 automobiles, relying on how nicely folks park. The parking zone at this trailhead fills up rapidly.

Overflow parking is on the market a few 1/2 mile down the highway. The Meads Meadow Trailhead Parking Lot on McDaniel Street opened for public use in 2017. The overflow parking zone is situated at 463 Macdaniel Rd, Bearsville, NY 12409 and may accomodate about 30 automobiles.

There’s a 1/2-mile foot path which connects each parking heaps, eliminating the necessity to stroll alongside the shoulder of the highway. This connector path ends close to the kiosk, simply previous the gate of foremost parking space.

Please understand that parking within the overflow lot will add 1 mile (1/2 mile every means) to the hike described right here.

Parking is simply accessible within the designated areas, please observe all posted visitors and parking indicators, in any other case your automobile could also be ticketed and/or towed.

Restrooms:

There are moveable bogs within the parking zone. 

There’s additionally a Privy (outhouse) on the summit behind the Observer’s Cabin.

Historical past:

South Peak, as Overlook Mountain was as soon as identified, was described intimately by Charles Lanman in journal articles and his e-book Letters of a Panorama Painter revealed in 1845. Lanman was an important admirer of the artist Thomas Cole (1801–1848) and for a while tried to influence him to discover the mountain. Though Thomas Cole included the mountain in a number of of his work. It was not till 1846 that he visited, and performed a component in changing the title South Peak with Overlook Mountain. Thomas Cole, so far as is thought, was the primary individual to set down in writing ‘Overlook Mountain’ because the title of your complete mountain.

Cole wrote of the view: “The huge valley of the Hudson lies like a Sea earlier than and beneath you whereas the bottom of the mountain on which you stand rises abrupt and positively from its misty bosom & looks as if the prow of a stupendous vessel ploughing the nice deep.”

Till the tip of his life, Cole was drawn to the higher elevations of the Catskills. It was nevertheless, Overlook, to which he returned for a remaining go to. In accordance with Cole’s biographer, Louis Noble, in The Course of Empire (1858), Cole was conscious that he was approaching the tip of his life when he selected to hike the Overlook Cliffs in October of 1847: “From this dizzy crag Cole took a protracted and silent lookup and down the beloved valley of the Hudson. He had gazed upon it, from different factors unnumbered instances, alone and with companions. . . it had stuffed his coronary heart for years. This was his final look.” Cole died just a few months later on the age of 47.

Overlook Mountain Home ~

The primary of a protracted collection of efforts to construct a resort on the mountain started in 1833; when Overlook Mountain was nonetheless referred to as South Peak or Woodstock Mountain. Close by was Schue’s Pond, in the present day Echo Lake. James Sales space constructed a horseback – mountaineering path that yr to what he referred to as a “non permanent mountain home,” which he proposed to develop into a big construction, like the favored Catskill Mountain Home. Nonetheless, this enterprise didn’t survive the financial turmoil of 1833. Sales space was adopted by different disillusioned Overlook dreamers – William Scobie, Nicholas Elmendorf, Robert Livingston Pell and Isaac N. Secor. Lastly, a company with giant stockholders, William Brinkerhoff (a Woodstock resort proprietor) and Charles H. Krack (a summer season house owner who owned a floating bathhouse in New York Metropolis), succeeded. The primary Overlook Mountain Home was inbuilt 1871 by designer and builder Lewis B. Wagonen of Kingston; however by then, the solitude, peace and sweetness that had attracted the early guests was in competitors with the bluestone and charcoal industries. Tourism finally prevailed. By the early 1900’s, Overlook Mountain was well-known to the artwork group and close by Woodstock’s popularity as an artwork colony was rising because of Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead’s arts and crafts colony Byrdcliffe.

The unique Overlook Mountain Home accommodated 300 visitors by 1873. Destroyed by a chimney hearth in 1875, it was rebuilt in 1878 by the Kiersted Brothers of Saugerties. In its early seasons, the Mountain Home resembled a sanitarium for lung and tuberculosis sufferers particularly because it was the very best elevation mountain home within the State. Anchored to the mountain by cables, the second mountain home stood three tales excessive and was 200 toes lengthy. Nonetheless, between the years 1887 and 1917 it operated irregularly. In 1917 it was offered to financier Morris Newgold, however was once more destroyed by hearth in 1924. Resurrected in concrete to turn into a grand resort, it was by no means accomplished, a sufferer of fixing public tastes and the car. Since 1940, when it was boarded up, theft, vandalism and the weather have introduced it to its current situation.

Fireplace Tower ~

The Overlook Mountain Fireplace Tower is the most recent of the 5 remaining hearth towers within the Catskill Park, having been inbuilt its current location in 1950. The tower closed in 1988 and was reopened in 1999, making it the primary tower to re-open to the general public within the Catskills. The metal tower affords unimaginable views of the Hudson River Valley throughout to the Berkshires, Taconics and Litchfield Hills, the Ashokan Reservoir and the Satan’s Path Vary.

The Overlook Mountain Fireplace Tower is a typical 60′ Aermotor LS40 metal tower that was first erected on Gallis Hill in 1927. It was taken down by the Conservation Division and moved to this location in 1950. The tower has been restored as part of the Catskill Fireplace Tower Challenge and seems within the Nationwide Historic Lookout Register. The tower sits on the 3,140′ ft. summit. The staircase is open each day at Overlook Mountain Fireplace Tower. The highest cab is open on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day by Columbus Day when volunteer summit/hearth tower stewards are current on the mountain.

Path Overview:

Beginning on the Overlook Mountain parking space situated on Meads Mountain Street, the red-blazed Overlook Spur Path is a gentle climb on an outdated carriage highway that after transported visitors within the late nineteenth century to the Overlook Mountain Home and later, to entry the hearth tower.

Hike Overview:

I rated this hike as Average – Strenuous, however that’s subjective. The strenuous half is the primary half of the hike that beneficial properties 1,400 toes of elevation. The average half is that it’s on a large gravel highway which is simpler to stroll than a footpath, and the second half of the hike is all down hill.

It is a fairly easy out-and-back hike on a large gravel highway. It’s virtually not possible to get misplaced, even for probably the most navigationally challenged hiker. It’s a preferred mountaineering spot so you will note different hikers, particularly in hotter climate.  The hike described right here is about 5 miles spherical journey.

As you possibly can see from the elevation graph beneath, it’s a steep climb to the hearth tower, roughly 1,400 toes of elevation achieve.

The Hike:

From the again of the parking zone on Meads Mountain Street, proceed previous the gate onto the large gravel highway heading northeast on the red-blazed Overlook Spur Path. The path markers are scant, however the route is apparent. 

Please signal the Path Register. Trailhead registers are utilized by the NYSDEC to estimate the quantity of public use on State lands and as a information to help with administration selections concerning using public lands. Understanding how many individuals use the world determines the necessity for funding allocations. Additionally they assist SAR groups discover you in case you are misplaced, and supply a communication discussion board for hikers of present hazards or warnings.

The path begins to climb instantly. This path makes use of the present gravel highway which was constructed for entry to the Overlook Mountain Home and later, to entry the hearth tower.

After virtually 2 miles of a steep uphill climb, the skeletal stays of the Overlook Mountain Home become visible. You could need to take some time to discover the large concrete ruins. Please heed warning across the ruins for unfastened or falling concrete. There’s a excessive inhabitants of Rattlesnakes in and round this space. Watch the place you step.

Owned by New York Metropolis hotelier Morris Newgold, He started to make enhancements, however the resort burned down in 1924.

Newgold determined to rebuild, swearing to create a resort that will “final the take a look at of time and climate.” In 1927 he determined to construct a four-story constructing out of concrete, together with an influence station and different facilities.

By 1935, he had spent $1 million, however Newgold died earlier than it was full. World Struggle II was looming, and Newgold’s grandson was about to enlist. He had the grounds sealed up and joined the service. When he got here again after the struggle, he discovered the constructing had been damaged into and all the pieces of worth carted off.

Vandalized past restore, the resort was deserted for good. Mockingly, now it’s extra fashionable than ever, albeit not as an in a single day cease.

The ruins are spectacular and castle-like.

As you proceed on the path, you’ll encounter one other smaller construction.

To the north of the principle resort is an outdated spring and reservoir, with close by ruins of the “bowling alley.”

After passing the resort ruins, proceed to observe the path uphill. From right here it’s one other 1/2 mile to the precise summit. Circling round a small cliff, hikers will attain the Observer’s Cabin.

There are a number of picnic tables on the summit.

A pleasant grill is on the market to be used, however with the excessive winds most likely not advisable. 

The 60-foot Aermotor metal tower with 7X7-foot steel cab was positioned on the Nationwide Historic Lookout Register in October of 1997.

Initially constructed for Gallis Hill in Kingston, the tower was moved piece-by-piece to its current location in 1950. For excellent views, you possibly can climb the 81 steps to the highest.

The excessive winds and cloud cowl dissuaded me from climbing to only beneath the cab, which was locked. I went about half means, clicked some pics and descended.

View northwest from the center of the hearth tower.

Beneath is an analogous shot on a transparent day.

View southwest from the center of the hearth tower.

Beneath is an analogous shot on a transparent day with Ashokan Reservoir seen.

Overlook Mountain Home ruins peeking out above the timber.

When you find yourself performed testing the views from the hearth tower, proceed previous the Observer’s Cabin to the Scenic Overlook.

It’s a brief stroll on this footpath to a rock ledge with panoramic views to the east, south and west.

Not a lot to see on today as a result of low mendacity clouds.

Beneath is an analogous shot on a transparent day. The Hudson River is seen on the far left with Ashokan Reservoir on the appropriate.

Beneath is an analogous shot on a transparent day. 

Right here you’ll discover graffiti carved into the rock going again to the early 1800’s. The one pictured beneath is 100 years outdated.

When you find yourself performed having fun with the views from the Scenic Overlook, retrace your steps previous the Observer’s Cabin and proceed downhill on the Overlook Spur Path.

You could need to cease on the Overlook Mountain Home ruins once more and snap some extra pics earlier than you make your means down the mountain.

From the ruins, it’s about 2 miles again to the parking zone, the place the hike started.

Evaluation:

The hike itself is somewhat boring. A slog steeply uphill on an outdated gravel highway with phone poles and energy strains overhead. Nonetheless, the payoff makes it completely value it. The large ruins, views and the hearth tower make for an pleasurable day on the mountain. It is a nice hike for people who take pleasure in an excellent climb, however don’t care to enterprise into the deep woods. I’ve not seen any Rattlesnakes on my two visits to Overlook Mountain, however they’re there. Each instances that I’ve hiked Overlook Mountain passed off in March in order that they have been most likely nonetheless of their dens. Consciousness of excessive grass and rock crevices are important to keep away from any undesirable encounters with Rattlesnakes.

Professionals:

Overlook Mountain Home ruins, Overlook Mountain Fireplace Tower, Hudson Valley views.

Cons:

Previous gravel highway is monotonous, parking zone fills up rapidly, tends to get crowded in hotter climate.

Take a hike!

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