Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail

Prepare for an hour of this view…

The red blazes are a little hard to see. They’re on telephone poles on the side of the carriage road. But it’s hard to go wrong.

Just stay on the main trail, ignore any side trails, and keep heading up.

Once you get near the top, you’ll see a handful of signs warning about rattlesnakes. Take heed.

Overlook Mountain House Ruins Photos

At 1.6 miles, look to the right for an opening into the woods. You’ll see the castle-like ruins of the latest and final Overlook Mountain House.

This iteration was started in the 1920’s but never completed. Fires burned down two previous incarnations of the hotel, which then was almost rebuilt but ran out funding, was abandoned, fell into disuse, and is now being reclaimed by nature.

The ruins are quite large and worth exploring (carefully) for a while.

I want to explore this east wing more. I think the far side of it might offer a view of Overlook’s summit and fire tower as this side of the ruins is visible from the fire tower — incongruously jutting out of the forest canopy, somewhat creepily.

If I believed in ghosts, this would be prime ghost-spotting territory. I did bump into three young dudes who had camped in these ruins overnight. Personally? A big bowl of Nope! (I do believe in creepy.)

Overlook Mountain Lodge

Head back to the Overlook mountain trail and continue your climb.

The trail winds around the back of the ruins and passes the husk of a smaller building, also in ruins.

This is Overlook Lodge. It was used by the owner’s family.

Standing on these steps, you can look across the first floor, though the wood has rotted away, exposing the cellars below.

Plattekill Waypoint

Continue uphill. From the lodge, the summit of Overlook is only about ten minutes away.

First, you’ll pass this turn-off which leads out to Plattekill Mountain and Echo Lake, Indian Head—and to Platte Clove, a lovely alternate starting point and route to this same spot.

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

You’ll pass a rocky section on your left, classic rattlesnake den territory. I saw several herd paths heading into the rocks. Another strong No thanks! from me. (Well, maybe in winter…)

The trail passes a small red caretakers’ cabin on the right. You’ll come back to this later.

Stay on the Overlook mountain trail as it winds left and enters the summit opening where, at last, Overlook Mountain Fire Tower appears ahead, rather impressively. It’s a tall boy.

The DEC page states, “This is the newest of the five towers left in the Catskill Park, having been at its present location since only 1950. However, the tower itself is much older as it was originally constructed in 1927 on Gallis Hill, just west of Kingston.“ It’s in great shape.

At 60 ft tall, the fire tower on Overlook Mountain is one of the taller ones. Some fire tower models are only 47 ft.

Overlook Mountain Rattlers

Take extra care here. On hot days, rattlesnakes will sometimes sun themselves out in the open, often right around the base of the fire tower.

Rattlesnakes are not normally aggressive but, of course, extreme caution should be taken around these potentially deadly predators. Always stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from rattlers. Leave them alone, and they’ll leave you alone.

Sunrise from Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

No wonder this is one of the most popular hikes in the Catskills.

I did not know what to expect when I climbed this tower. I had recently climbed Mount Tremper’s Fire Tower and really loved the view from there.

When I climbed Overlook’s, I was blown away. Even in the pre-dawn light, holy cow, what a view!

To the north, the view takes in, most dramatically, Plattekill Mountain and all four peaks of the Eastern Devil’s Path, with Kaaterskill High Peak and the Blackhead Range in the distance.

Looking west, you can see Olderbark and even West Kill poking up from behind the ridge. Then there’s Ticetonyk Mountain and Mount Tremper, the Burroughs Range, Peekamoose and Table, Ashokan High Point and the Ashokan Reservoir, the Shawangunks, Kingston, the Hudson River — and even the Taconics along the horizon, directly east.

It’s such a stunning mix of mountains — up-close peaks, distant peaks, layered peaks — with water, open flats, and big sky. Just incredible.

Behind Overlook’s ridge, which you have just hiked up, you can see Cooper Lake & Mount Tobias, the Burroughs Range, Ticetonyk, and Ashokan High Point.

At this hour the light changes very quickly, from minute to minute.

The large mountain in the background is Panther. You can also see Giant Ledge to its left. In the far background is Doubletop.

After I took the above shots, I turned back around to the east to see the sun start to come up…

First light started to hit the mountaintops…

It took me a minute to realize what I was looking at below…

This is the shadow of Overlook Mountain cast onto the Burroughs Range just after dawn. At 16 miles long, I think it’s the longest shadow I’ve seen.

After Dawn, The Light Changes Again

The morning violet hour is very short. Soon, the sky and colors start to wash out. But there’s still plenty to see. The town of Woodstock is visible below, marked by the spire of a church…

One of the great benefits of sunrise hikes: I got to spend an hour in the fire tower, completely alone and undisturbed at the very best time of day — and this was on a Saturday morning at one of the busiest sites in the Catskills!

In early summer, this is the view…

There is one last stop before you descend. For me, this was an unexpected treat.

Overlook Mountain Ledge

Climb down from Overlook Mountain Fire Tower, keeping an eye out for any snakes, and head back to the red cabin you passed on your way up.

A short spur trail to the right of the cabin takes you, very quickly, to a ledge with a magnificent view of the Hudson River, Ashokan Reservoir, the Central Catskills, and up to five states.

The view from this ledge is so great. I didn’t realize it at the time but Kingston is clearly visible from the ledge.

On the ledge itself are old graffiti carvings from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Please do not deface or add to these historical marks.

From here, it will take you about an hour to get back down to the parking area. For such a short hike, I would say this double bill of amazing views is impossible to beat.