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The newly-constructed Red Hill Fire Tower Hiking Trail, along with a brand new trailhead on Denning Road, are now open for use.
The trailhead improves access to the Red Hill Fire Tower in the Sundown Wild Forest through a land use permit agreement with NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Red Hill is a beautiful mountain, beautifully situated, with stunning fire tower views. The summit hosts one of six Catskills Fire Towers.
There are now two routes to Red Hill’s fire tower:
- the classic Red Hill hiking trail which is wonderful in warmer months
- the new Red Hill hiking trail which is more accessible to cars in the colder months (see below)
New Trailhead Location
The new trailhead is approximately four miles east of the intersection of W. Brand and Claryville Road. The location of the parking area — 41°56’06.5″ N / 74°31’45.8″ W — can be found on google maps at https://goo.gl/maps/49uP9bT8vXsaHtqL6.
New Red Hill Hiking Trail
Visitors can now hike the new blue-blazed trail which was built by Tahawus Trails professional trail crew. The new trail traverses both DEP and Forest Preserve Lands through rocky outcroppings and hemlock laden forests. The trail is the result of a partnership between NYC Water and NYS DEC.
The newly constructed 1.4 miles of trail intersects with the existing (yellow blazed) trail that leads to the summit.
Both routes are out-and-back routes. Total round trip mileage for the new route is 4.0 miles. The elevation gain is apx 1200′.
Safety
If you’re new to mountain hiking, make sure to pack The Ten Essentials.
You can also review this Winter Essentials Cheat Sheet / Checklist.
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