Balsam Lake 
A short, easy hike to a fire tower with an epic view makes Balsam Lake one of the Catskill’s most popular and beloved peaks.
Peak Details
Height: 3,729ft (1,137m)
Range: Central Catskills
Level: Easy
Scenic: Very
Trail Type: Fully Trailed
Balsam Lake Hiking Trails & Hikes
Catskills Fire Tower Challenge 2024
Everything you need to complete the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge.
Balsam Lake Fire Tower (updated)
Incredible 360° wilderness views make this hike spectacular at any time of year.
18 Amazing Western Catskills Hikes
Some of the best day hikes are only a few hours from New York City. The Western Catskills have it all!
Thru-Hike Doubletop, Graham & Balsam Lake
This hike had it all: stream crossings, herd paths, bear prints, a canister, a memorably steep descent, a true bushwhack, a rugged ascent, an ice grotto, some old ruins and, to top it all off, a fire tower with amazing sunset views.
Trail Maintenance, Balsam Lake, Fall 2019
Finished my 2019 maintenance by tidying up a few things between the two junctions on the south side of Balsam Lake. When I first took on this trail section in the spring, it hadn’t been tended to in many years and was very overgrown.
Graham Mountain & Balsam Lake
This long day-hike combines Graham and a loop around Balsam Lake’s summit.
Balsam Lake Topography
Summit Forecast: Balsam Lake
The page URL below shows the weather at Balsam Lake’s summit for the next six days.
If a foreacast for a peak is not directly available, this page may display a link to a nearby location.
https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Balsam-Lake-Mountain/forecasts/1137
Get full access…
Get instant access to the full version of this site and enjoy great supporter benefits: full galleries, full trail notes, early access to the latest content, and more.
Hot on the website right now…
Follow for more…
Follow my @TotalCatskills content on Instagram for regular hiking inspo and safe, inclusive community.