Balsam Lake Fire Tower (updated)

Note: The trail register for Balsam Lake is quite a distance from the road, so don’t be surprised when you don’t get to it immediately.

The first mile has a moderate amount of incline. The second mile is a mix of long flat sections, and even a little elevation loss.

Balsam Lake Signposts

Continue to reach the signposted junction where the trail splits.

Head directly to your right, along the red-blazed trail.

Pass around the gate and continue climbing.

There are several steep/flat switches.

Not long after the 3500 FOOT ELEVATION sign, the woods change suddenly from deciduous to a massive stand of fir trees.

Finally, the trail flattens out along the summit ridge. It’s very pleasant.

After just a few minutes in the pine woods, you’ll pass the observer’s cabin on your right and then enter the clearing with the picnic table and the fire tower. At the edge of the clearing, you’ll pass this gorgeous old weathered signpost…

This is the summit of Balsam Lake Mountain.

Balsam Lake Fire Tower

The fire tower, here, is one of the true gems of the Catskill Park.

The views from the cabin extend for miles, all around. In every direction, there’s almost no indication of human habitation. The scene is primordial.

If the tower cabin is closed, as it is most of the time, you can still climb the tower; just not all the way. It’s well worth getting over your heebeejeebeees…

The wind up there is often bananas. You can hear it on this video. I didn’t stick around long. I took my shots and scurried down the tower. This has been the case with almost every visit I’ve made to this tower — it’s always crazy windy and wind-chill-y up there!

It can be difficult to orient yourself up there but the observer’s cabin is a big help.

Once you climb the tower, the roofline of the cabin points away, roughly to the east — toward the southern Catskills. The large mountain in the foreground is Graham. Beyond it, to the right, you can see Slide, Doubletop, Lone, Table and Peekamoose.

To the left of Graham, Panther Mountain is also visible. From this angle, it looks incredible; you can see the long northern flat ridge that forms Fox Hollow, and that enormous evergreen summit…

I think Eagle Mountain and Haynes may also be visible. They’d be to the left of the above photo, out of frame.

The ruins of the repeater station on top of Graham are clearly visible from Balsam Lake…

I remember seeing Balsam Lake’s fire tower from Graham’s summit the last time I was up there. I love seeing one summit from another and then, later, reversing the view.

Now that I know what I’m looking at, I can’t wait to get back up there with my good lens.

Balsam Lake Privy

This privy is so nice, it deserves special mention. Please treat this glorious poop TARDIS with great care. It’s a true Catskills gem.

Hike Out

At this point, most people turn around and head back out the way they came in. To do this, simply head back toward the observer’s cabin and downhill. At the junction, turn left and head out to your car on Millbrook Road.

However, if you’d prefer a more adventurous descent, you can also return via the more challenging (and far more beautiful) southern route…

Balsam Lake’s Southern Ridge

When you first came into the clearing, you may have noticed another opening in the woods on your left. From the tower, if you look down at the picnic table, you’ll see it clearly.

This trail leads down the steep south ridge. The character of the trail going down the south side of the mountain is very different from the trail you came up. It’s steep and rugged, and much more authentically Catskills.

There are some fantastic old trees…

In these conditions, even with an inch or two of snow on the ground, I’d been able to bare-boot my way to the summit. Not for the descent. Before heading down, I put on my microspikes.

The trail descends gradually at first, until the first junction, where you’ll see signs on the right for Mill Brook Ridge.

Scenic View…

Not far down that trail, there’s a scenic view marked on the NYNJTC maps that I wanted to check out. You lose some elevation, and there’s an intense switchback which you can see on my Gaia track.

Through the trees, I saw what I think was Woodpecker Ridge. But I found no amazing lookout. Stepping off the trail right here to bushwhack didn’t seem wise; it’s very steep at this spot. More research needed, I think.

I re-climbed to the junction, turned right, and continued down the red trail.

Balsam Lake Spring

The spring not far below always seems to be flowing pretty well. You come to a large, very-rectangular boulder and the spring is just to its right — a small metal pipe sticking out of the mountain.

Below here, the trail is very steep. If there’s any snow or ice at all, you’ll absolutely need microspikes or snowshoes.

Balsam Lake Lean-To

The next side-trail leads down to a very sweetly-situated lean-to. The blazing is patchy so keep your eyes peeled, but it’s not far down the trail.

I hung out here for a few minutes — it’s extremely peaceful — then headed back to the main trail.

The trail continues winding down the mountain, sometimes steeply, sometimes more easily. The blazing is pretty good. Eventually, reaching the bottom, you’ll reconnect with the blue trail.

This view is looking back up the trail I’d just come down…

Turn north/left. It’s just a mile back to the junction with the red trail which you took up to the summit. I do trail maintenance on this section of trail. It’s nice and quiet here, too; I don’t think this trail mile gets used a ton.

The brook downhill to your right is Black Brook.

From the junction with the red trail that goes up to fire tower, it’s 2¼ very easy miles to your car.