Lyon Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 7 miles west of Dannemora.
Status: Still remains and is accessible to the public.

When this observation station was established in April 1910, no tower was immediately erected due to the lack of tree cover on the mountaintop. There is no evidence that a tower was ever built on Lyon until 1917 when the Conservation Commission erected a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

The tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

Until recently, the tower and trail lay on property of Domtar Industries Timber Company according to Jack Freeman of the ADK. In January, 2005, Domtar sold 20,000 acres of its holdings around Lyon Mt. to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for eventual re-sale to New York State. TNC and ADK are collaborating to redesign the trail, and some work by DEC to recondition the tower began in 2005, with more work envisioned for 2006.

Lyon Mt is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Palmer Hill Fire Tower

Location: 2 miles north of the Hamlet of Au Sable Forks
Status: Remains on private property and is closed to the public.

A 60' Aermotor LS40 tower and observers cabin were erected by the Conservation Department in 1930 and operated for a portion of that season reporting 9 fires. This tower was intended to supplement Whiteface Mt. It is located in an area where early spring and late fall fires are a frequent occurrence, and because of the inability to operate Whiteface Mountain tower during those periods, the fires were frequently large in size before being reported by some other more remote tower.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed in early 1971 and was placed on the "Inactive" list but was reactivated in 1979. It was active until closing at the end of the 1988 season and was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

The tower still remains, is on private property and is closed to the public.

Mt. Adams Fire Tower

Location: 4 mile northeast of the Hamlet of Tahawus.
Status: Partially restored and open to the public.

The first structure up on Adams was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in 1912. In 1917, the Conservation Commission replaced it with a 47' steel Aermotor LS40 tower.

With the advent of aerial detection, the tower was closed at the end of the 1971 season. The tower and cabin still remain on lands previously owned by the National Lead Co.

In 2003, the Outdoor Space Institute (OSI) purchased about 10,000 acres of land from NL Industries. The area involved is commonly refered to as the Tahawus Tract. Within this acreage are the Mt. Adams Fire Tower, observer's cabin and related out buildings. As it was planned, a large portion of this property would be transferred to the State of New York and subsequently become part of the High Peaks Wilderness Area, requiring that the tower and related structures be removed.

Considerable pressure was brought, and the involved parties, OSI and the DEC, arrived at an arrangement where the surrounding lands would be transferred to the State with the exception of the tower and cabin sites. These would be retained by OSI so that historic preservation and restoration work could be commenced.

Since that time, restoration work has begun on the tower by the DEC through AmeriCorp volunteers of the Student Conservation Association. At this time, a "friends" group is being organized to continue the work.

In early April 2006 the Adirondack Park Agency gave final approval to the plan for the Tahawus Tract. In view of this latest development, Mt. Adams should have a bright future.

The cabin on Adams, built in 1922, is the oldest surviving in the state and one of the first of a standard design established by the Conservation Commission that same year. The Friends of Mt Adams began restoration work on the cabin in Sept. of 2007.

Mt Adams now appears on the National Historic Lookout Register.

Mt Adams is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Belfry Mt. Fire Tower

Location: Near Mineville, 8 miles southwest of Westport.
Status: Still remains but is accessible to the public.

The first structure on Belfry was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in 1912. In 1917, the Commission replaced the wooden tower with a 47' Aermotor LS40 tower.

The tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

The tower still remains on private lands and supports multiple radio antennas.

Belfry is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Boreas Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 8 miles northwest of the Hamlet of North Hudson.
Status: Removed .

The first structure on Boreas was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in May 1911. In 1919, the Conservation Commission replaced the wooden tower with a 47' LS40 Aermotor tower.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1971 season and later removed.

Goodnow Mt. Fire Tower

Location: South of Rt. 28N 2 miles west of Newcomb.
Status: Restored and is open to the public.

Goodnow Mt. was chosen as an ideal site for an observation station in the town of Newcomb, Essex county, in 1921. A steel tower had been secured through extensive cooperation of landowners and lumbermen operating in the area in hopes to have it operational in 1922.

The structure on Goodnow Mt is a 60' Aermotor LS40 tower erected by the Conservation Commission in the early spring of 1922.

The tower was closed at the end of the 1979 season. It was later transferred to the landowner, SUNY College of Forestry, Huntington Forest. The tower and cabin have been completely restored by the landowner and the tower is open to the public. Goodnow Mt. now appears on the National Historic Lookout Register.

Goodnow is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower                                                                                              summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5                                                                                              Catskill Park summits."

Hurricane Mt. Fire Tower

Location: North of Rt. 9N, 5 miles west of Elizabethtown.
Status: Still remains but is in danger of being removed by the DEC.

When this observation station was established in April 1910, no tower was immediately erected, as an unobstructed view was available due to the lack of tree cover on the mountaintop. There is currently no evidence that a tower was ever built on Hurricane until 1919 when the Conservation Commission erected a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower. Click to view news article.

The tower was closed about 1979. The tower was slated for removal in late 2001 or in 2002 as it is deemed a "non-conforming structure" in the Hurricane Mt. Primitive Area. However, it still remains at this time and there appears to growing support to retain the tower even though it's deemed by some to be in violation of the State Land Master Plan (SLMP). Hurricane Mt. now appears on the National Historic Lookout Register.

The DEC is currently working on completing the unit management plan for the Hurricane Mountain Primitive Area, which could reclassify the summit from primitive to wilderness. If the reclassification is successful, the tower would be removed under guidelines for wilderness areas. The Friends of Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower group encourages all interested parties to contact the DEC in support of declaring the summit where the tower stands as a Historic Area, similar to John Brown's Farm, Crown Point and most recently Camp Santanoni, so the tower can remain for historical and educational purposes. That concept was later deemed inappropriate under the current guidelines in the SLMP.

The future existance of this tower is hotly disputed by most environmental groups due to the fact that the SLMP regards this fire tower as "non-conforming use." The APA has tabled final decision on this and all other towers pending the completion by the DEC of a fire tower management plan covering all towers within the Adirondack Park.

Hurricane is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Makomis Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 1 mile east of Underwood and near the intersection of I-87 and State Rt. 73.
Status: Removed.

The first structure on Makomis Mt. was a fully enclosed wooden tower taken over by the Conservation Commission in September 1911. It's doubtful that the Conservation Department actually built the structure. In 1916 it was replaced with a 40' Aermotor LL25 tower. It was of a lighter weight than their 1917 design and had no stairs but only a ladder up the exterior for the purpose of ingress and egress. Wooden steps were added within the structure to ease access for both the Observer and the general public in 1918 or 1919. (Click here to view a news article)

A self-supporting staircase was developed by Aermotor, for installation in the towers purchased in 1916. This staircase amounted to a tower within a tower and was anchored to the original tower. These were purchased to replace the wooden stairs currently in use and were installed in this tower in 1933.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season and later removed. The dismantled tower is now owned by a resident of Plattsburg who hopes to erect it on an escarpment located north of the city.

Pharaoh Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 5 miles east of Schroon Lake in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area.
Status: Removed.

When this observation station was established in April 1910, no tower was immediately erected, as an unobstructed view was available due to the lack of tree cover on the mountaintop. The first structure on Pharaoh Mt. was a little more than a pole frame with a canvas tarp where the observer could get in out of the weather.

There is no evidence that a tower was ever built on Pharaoh until 1918, when the Conservation Commission erected a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

This tower was closed in 1987. This structure was later removed because it was irreparably damaged by vandals and was deemed excess to the fire detection needs of the Bureau of Forest Fire Control.

The tower was then removed in 1992 because of vandalism (Click here to view a news article) and because it deemed a "non-conforming" structure in the Pharoah Lakes Wilderness Area.

Poke-O-Moonshine Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 7 miles south of Keeseville and west of I-87.
Status: Restored and open to the public.

The first structure on Poke-O-Moonshine was a wooden tower erected by the Conservation Commission in                                                                            1912.

In 1917 the wood tower replaced with a 35' Aermotor tower.

In 1919, the third generation of a device known as the Osborne Fire Finder had been developed by the US Forest Service. By means of this instrument, a panoramic map of the territory visible from a mountain station could be prepared.

This made it possible for an inexperienced observer to locate fires more accurately than by using ordinary topographic maps. The Osborne was first tried out at Poke-O-Moonshine Mt. during that same year and a map was made. It was considered so successful that in the years to follow the Osborne was carried up to each mountain station and a map made. This project took several years to complete.

Panoramic maps were ultimately provided to all towers to aid the observer in locating fires. This was a circular map with a panoramic sketch of the surrounding vista around the outside edge as can be seen in the photo below.

The inner portion was a topographic map with the tower location in the center. A sighting device called an "alidade" pivoted on a pin in the center of the map. Along the outer edge of the topographic map portion are azimuths that could be easily read by the observer once the alidade was sited on a possible fire.

The outermost edge of the map is the panorama or a sketch of what the observer could actually see from the mountain station.

While these were very helpful to the observer in locating a possible fire, there was a downside to the concept.

The diameter of the circular map was only 12 inches. This allowed the observer to do a reasonably good job of locating a fire within six miles of the station, but locating fires further distant was still difficult.

Vast areas of the Adirondacks and Catskills didn't appear on any stations maps requiring they use the previous methods of location. Triangulation, as a method of locating fires, didn't come in to its own until the 1940's.

Years later, use of a 30 inch diameter map was instituted that effectively did away with this problem but created another. The panoramic sketches that were so helpful to the new observer had to go.

This tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

In 1994, a group known as the Friends of Poke-O-Moonshine was formed to save and restore the tower.

Poke-O-Moonshine appears on both the National Historic Lookout Register and the National Register of Historic Places, being placed on the latter on Sept 28, 2001.

Poke-O-Moonshine is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Vanderwhacker Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 4 miles west of Rt. 28 at Aiden Lair.
Status: Restored and is open to the public.

The first structure on Vanderwhacker was a wooden tower erected by the Conservation Commission in May 1911. In 1918 it was replaced with a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

This tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

The tower still remains and is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Whiteface Mt. Fire Tower

Location: East of Lake Placid.
Status: Removed to the Adirondack Museum.

When this observation station was established in July 1909, no tower was immediately erected, as an unobstructed view was available due to the lack of tree cover on the mountaintop.

All that was initially provided was a pole frame structure with a canvas tent stretched over it so that the observer could get in out of the weather. The shelter was later improved to a stone hut. Finally, in 1919, a steel 22' Aermotor tower was erected on the mountaintop. (Click here to view news article)

In 1930, along with the memorial highway, a 46 foot memorial tower with a 60" revolving light was proposed to honor the Veterans of the World War. (Click here to view news article) As time passed the proposal grew to major proportions. It was finally proposed through the legislative process that the tower be of stone and be 70 feet tall. The authorizing legislation was ultimately vetoed by Governor Legman, putting the memorial tower idea to rest. (Click here to view news article) With the completion of the memorial highway, there followed a rather lengthy dispute over which agency, the Conservation Department or the State highway Department, would have control over the fire tower on Whiteface. Governor Lehman finally stepped in the ruled in favor of the Conservation Department in June of 1935.

Following completion of the highway and the determination that there would be no memorial tower on Whiteface, the State completed the improvements on the mountaintop which included the Summit House and the tunnel and elevator in 1937.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. A year and a half later, on May 23, 1972, Whiteface was the first of many towers to be removed from Adirondack mountaintops. Some because they were deemed no longer necessary and others because they were considered "non-conforming structures" pursuant to the new Adirondack State Land Master Plan produced by the newly created Adirondack Park Agency.

On that date, Forest Rangers and Operations personnel dismantled the tower marking the pieces for possible future use. Rangers and Operations personnel then loaded the shorter pieces into the elevator but the longer steel struts and leg sections were carried down the rocky path to waiting trucks at the end of the Memorial Highway The tower's historical sign remained on the mountaintop for another year, when it was removed and eventually donated along with the tower to the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mt Lake where both remain on display to this day.

Ampersand Mt. Fire Tower

Location: South of State Rt. 3 between Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake.
Status: Removed.

The observation station was established on Ampersand in August 1911 though no tower was initially erected. The first structure on Ampersand was a stone hut or cabin for the observer. In 1920, a 22' steel Aermotor LS40 tower was purchased for this site and was erected in 1921.

With the advent of aerial detection this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. This structure was removed in August 1977 because it was deemed excess to the needs of the Bureau of Forest Fire Control and was additionally a "non-conforming use" in the High Peaks Wilderness Area.

Azure Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 6 miles south of Santa Clara.
Status: Restored by the Friends of Azure Mt. and is open to the public.

The first structure on Azure was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in 1914. In 1918, the Conservation Commission replaced it with a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

This tower was closed at the end of the 1979 season and now appears on both the National Historic Lookout Register and the National Register of Historic Places being placed on the latter September 28, 2001.

An initial meeting of the of Azure Mt. Friends took place in November of 2001 to organize restoration of the facility. The tower had been completely restored the tower was officially "opened" on Sept. 27, 2003. A new map was also created and installed in the cab using the original metal supports.

They now have a terrific website that describes all of their efforts to restore, publicize and encourage use of the site. You can visit their website by clicking here.

Azure is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Debar Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 4 miles northeast of Meacham Lake.
Status: Removed.

The first structure on Debar was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in 1912. In 1918, the Commission replaced it with a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season and removed in 1979.

Loon Lake Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 4 miles west of Loon Lake and the Hamlet of the same name.
Status: Remains.

The first structure on Loon Lake was a wooden tower erected by the Conservation Commission in 1912. In 1917 it was replaced it with a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

The tower blew over during the winter of 1927-8 but was quickly reconstructed. (Click here to view news article)

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1971 season.

The tower still remains but will soon be open to the public. In 2010 the trail to the summit will be open to the public by means of a Conservation Easement between the DEC and the landowner.

Meenahga Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 7 miles north of Bloomingdale on the northwest side of Rainbow Lake.
Status: Remains on private land and is closed to the public.

Meenahga Mt. is a privately owned tower that cooperated with the Conservation Department towers during periods of high fire danger.

The structure on Meenahga is a 73' Aermotor LS40 tower erected by Conservation Department Forest Ranger Albert Tebeau in 1927 for the Adirondack-Florida School. (Click here to view news article)    Ranger Tebeau erected most of the fire observation stations in the northern Adirondacks.

While it was primarily for the use of the School, the tower would be used as a fire observation station through an agreement between the School and the Department.

The tower still remains on private land and is closed to the public.

Mt. Morris Fire Tower

Location: South of the Village of Tupper Lake.
Status: Remains on private property and is closed to the public.

When this observation station was established in July 1909, no tower was immediately erected, as an unobstructed view was available due to the lack of tree cover on the mountaintop. In 1919, the wooden tower was replaced with a 22' Aermotor LS40 tower, which was purchased the previous year.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1971 season. In the late 70's jurisdiction was transferred to the Town of Altamont who has incorporated the cabin into their ski center operations. The tower supports numerous radio antennas and is not accessible to the public.

St. Regis Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 4 miles south west of Paul Smiths.
Status: Remains but is in danger of being removed by the DEC.

When this observation station was established in April 1910, no tower was immediately erected, as an unobstructed view was available due to the lack of tree cover on the mountaintop. There is no evidence that a tower was ever built on St. Regis until 1918, when the Conservation Commission erected a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

In 1918 the State Conservation Commission purchased a new device known as the Osborne Fire Finder. With this, they developed new circular maps for each tower with a panoramic sketch of the view from the tower around the outside perimeter.

In the 1930's the Conservation Department experimented with two way radios to improve communications between its fire towers and forest rangers. The first radio ever used on St. Regis Mt. is pictured here. This should not be confused with a radio that is similar in make to the one first used, for this is the actual radio once used on St. Regis Mountain.

The tower was closed in 1990 and was one of the last operating fire towers in New York State and appears on the Nation Historic Lookout Register.

The tower was slated for removal in 2001 as it is a "non-conforming structure" within a St. Regis Canoe Area, but still remains. There is growing support to retain this and other towers that have been deemed "non-conforming" by the State Land Master Plan.

The Unit Management Plan for the St. Regis Canoe Area went through its initial review by the Adirondack Park Agency on Thursday, April 6, 2006. One of the provisions recommends that the tower be retained until such time as the Adirondack Park Agency considers whether the land surrounding it should be reclassified as an Historic Area.

From the minutes of the APA's May 11 -12, 2006 meeting, rather than reclassifying the land surrounding the tower, "the Agency unanimously adopted the revised draft resolution finding the St. Regis Canoe Area Unit Management Plan in conformance with the general guidelines and criteria of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan, except with regard to final action on the St. Regis Fire tower, to be further clarified through a proposed comprehensive study of fire towers..."

It now appears that the Department of Environmental Conservation has one year from the date of adoption of this plan to develop a comprehensive plan for fire towers within the Adirondack Park. Should no such plan be developed or should a plan not meet the future approval of the APA, the St. Regis Fire Tower would be destine from removal in three years.

While this is not a solid win for tower preservation and restoration enthusiasts, it is a step in the right direction.

St. Regis Mt. Fire Tower appears on both the National Historic Lookout Register and the National Register of History Places being placed on the latter in 2005. This development is viewed positively by the supporters of preserving the site. A "friends" group has been formed and is headed up by David Petrelli who can be contacted by clicking here or you can read about their efforts to save and restore the tower by clicking here.

St. Regis is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Kane Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 3 Miles north of the Village of Caroga Lake.
Status: Remains and has been restored by the Canada Lakes Protective Assn.

The structure on is a 60' Aermotor LS40 tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in 1925.

This tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

The tower had been restored and is maintained by the Canada Lakes Protective Assn. and is open to the public. Kane Mt. now appears on the National Historic Lookout Register and the National Register of Historic Places being added to the latter September 23, 2001.

Kane Mt. is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Blue Mt. Fire Tower

Location: Northeast of the Hamlet of Blue Mt. Lake.
Status: Remains, has been restored and is open to the public.

The first structure on Blue Mt was a wooden tower, about 30' in height, constructed by the Conservation Commission in September 1911. In 1917, the Conservation Commission replaced the wooden tower with a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

Blue was operational for 80 years and one of the longest operating towers in the State, second only to St. Regis which operated continuously for 81. During all those years there were four different cabins provided for the observer. The first was a log structure                                                                and the other three were of                                                                frame construction.

In the 1950's, as the "Cold War " raged and the threat of nuclear annihilation was a serious concern. The USAF had developed a long range radar system to protect against enemy bombers. In addition, they developed and deployed what where known as gap-filler radar stations. Having a range of around sixty-five miles, these radar installations were placed in areas where it was thought enemy aircraft could fly low to avoid detection by the longer-range radars of the permanent and mobile radar networks. One such gap-filler radio station was installed on the summit of Blue Mountain. The station became operational in January of 1959 and was decommissioned in December 1967.

In 1992, the Blue Mt tower and cabin were seriously vandalized by unknown individuals. This occurred about the same time Pharaoh was toppled and some believe it may have been done by the same people. (Click here to view a news article)

Blue Mt has been adopted and restored by local volunteers and is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Buck Mt. Fire Tower

Location: miles south of Tupper Lake and is west of State Rt. 30
Status: Remains but is closed to the public.

Buck Mt. was a privately owned tower that cooperated with the Conservation Department towers during periods of high fire danger. The structure on Buck is a 60' Aermotor LS40 tower erected by Whitney Park about 1933.

The structure still remains on lands currently owned by International Paper Company, who signed an agreement on April 11, 2006 to sell all its holdings in the Adirondack Park to Lyme Timber Company for                                                                                               $137 million dollars. Perviously, this tower was not                                                                                               accessible to the general public. Will this change when                                                                                               the transaction is completed remains to be seen.

Cathead Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 7 miles northwest of Northville.
Status: Remains but is closed to the public due to a dispute between the DEC and a private landowner.

The first structure on Cathead Mt. was an 18' wooden tower constructed in June 1910 by the Forest, Fish and Game Commission. Two and three quarter miles of telephone line was constructed so that the observer could quickly report fires spotted to the local Fire Patrolman/Forest Ranger.

In 1916, the Conservation Commission replaced the wooden tower with a 50' Aermotor LL25 tower. It was of a lighter weight than their 1917 design and had no stairs but only a ladder up the exterior for the purpose of ingress and egress. Wooden steps were added within the structure to ease access for both the Observer and the general public in 1918 or 1919. (Click here to view a news article)

In 1929, Aermotor developed a self-supporting staircase for installation in the towers purchased in 1916. This staircase amounted to a tower within a tower and was anchored to the original tower. These were purchased to replace the wooden stairs currently in use and was installed in this tower in 1929.

This tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

Access to Cathead is closed to the public because of a dispute between the Department of Environmental Conservation and a private landowner.

Cathead is currently being used as a radio repeater and relay site for various police agencies.

In order to comply with APA policy, which prohibits the placement of any additional towers within the Park, a tower frame was constructed over and attached to the current tower to provide space for radio repeaters and their antennas for various governmental agencies. The result is this monstrosity that exists there today.

Dun Brook Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 6 miles northeast of Blue Mt. Lake.
Status: Removed in the early 1900's.

The only structure on Dunn Brook Mt was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in May 1911.

This tower was closed in 1920. There are no photos or other information to be had on this site.

Hamilton Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 5 miles southeast of Lake Pleasant.
Status: Removed.

The first structure on Hamilton Mt. was an 18' wooden tower constructed in October 1909 by the Forest, Fish and Game Commission. In 1916 it was replaced with a 50' Aermotor LL25 tower. It was of a lighter weight than their 1917 design and had no stairs but only a ladder up the
exterior for the purpose of ingress and egress. (Click here to view a news article)

Wooden steps were added within the structure to ease access for both the Observer and the general public in 1918 or 1919. These were later replaced with a steel staircase with wood treads as shown in the adjoining picture.

In 1929, a self-supporting staircase was developed by Aermotor, for installation in the towers purchased in 1916. This staircase amounted to a tower within a tower and was anchored to the original tower. These were purchased to replace the wooden stairs currently in use and were installed in this tower in 1931.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1971 season.

This structure was removed about 1977 because it was deemed excess to the fire detection needs of                                                                                                      the Bureau of Forest Fire Control and additionally                                                                                                      was classified as a "non-conforming structure" in                                                                                                      the newly established Silver Lake Wilderness                                                                                                      Area.

Kempshall Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 5 miles northeast of the Village of Long Lake.
Status: Removed.

The first structure on Kempshall was a wooden tower erected by the Conservation Commission in May 1911. In 1918 the wooden tower was replaced with a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1971 season. This structure was removed because it was deemed excess to the fire detection needs of the Bureau of Forest Fire Control and additionally was classified as a "non-conforming structure" in the newly established High Peaks Wilderness Area.

This tower has been removed. Portions of this tower and the West Mt tower were used to erect the tower that now stands at the Essex County Historical Museum in Elizabethtown NY.

Owls Head Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 4 miles southwest of the Village of Long Lake.
Status: Restoration is under way.

The first structure on Owls Head was a wooden tower erected by the Conservation Commission in September 1911. In 1919 it was replace with a 35' standard Aermotor LS40 tower.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season.

The tower still remains, is being restored and is open to the public. It was added to the National Historic Lookout Register in 2006.

Owls Head is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18                                                                            of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Pillsbury Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 9 miles northwest of Speculator.
Status: Remains and a group is waiting for approval to begin restoration.

The first structure on Pillsbury was a wooden tower erected by the Champlain Realty Co in 1918.






















By agreement, the landowner would provide an observer during periods of dry weather. It was considered a "secondary tower" by the State.

In 1924 a 60' Aermotor LS40 tower was purchased and erected by the landowner. The new tower was operated as an observation station by the Conservation Commission.

This tower was closed about 1985. It still remains and can be accessed by the public. Pillsbury Mt. now appears on the National Historic Lookout Register.

Pillsbury has been adopted by a local chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association and awaits permission to begin restoration.

Pillsbury is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Salmon Lake Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 10 miles north of the Village of Raquette Lake.
Status: Remains but is closed to the public.

Salmon Lake Mt. was a privately owned tower that cooperated with the Conservation Department towers during periods of high fire danger. The structure on Salmon Lake is a 35' Aermotor LX24 tower erected by Whitney Park about 1933.

The tower had no stairs but only a ladder up the exterior of the structure for the purposes of ingress and egress.

The structure still remains, is in poor condition and is not open to the public.

Hours of intensive searching of numerous Internet sites relating to fire towers and forest fire prevention on both the state and national levels, as well as the National Historic Lookout Register and the National Register of Historic Places, revealed that the structure on Salmon Lake Mt. is quite likely one of only a few remaining Aermotor LX24 design towers still standing in the United States.

Perhaps it is once again time to approach the landowner regarding restoring the tower before it is lost forever.

Snowy Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 7 miles southwest of Indian Lake and west of State Rt. 30.
Status: Has been restored by the DEC and is open to the public.

The first structure on Snowy was a wooden tower erected by the Forest, Fish & Game Commission in August 1909. In 1917 it was replaced with a 22' Aermotor LS40 tower.

In 1933, four additional flights of stairs were added to bring the height to 47' to get above the high growth attained by surrounding trees in the previous 15 years.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1971 season. The tower appears on the National Register of Historic Places, being placed there Sept 23, 2001.

The DEC and local volunteers restored the tower in 2001.

Snowy is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Below, to the left, is a great vintage photo of Observer Alvin Mattison from the collection of Dan Locke. To the right is a postcard generated from the Locke photo. Postcards can be a great research tool as, in the instance of fire towers, most are made from actual photographs, even in the early 1900s.

T Lake Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 3 miles northwest of Piseco Lake.
Status: Removed.

In 1916 the Conservation Commission erected a 50' Aermotor LL25 tower. It was of a lighter weight than their 1917 design and had no stairs but only a ladder up the exterior for the purpose of ingress and egress. Wooden steps were added within the structure to ease access for both the Observer and the general public in 1918 or 1919. (Click here to view a news article)

A self-supporting staircase was developed by Aermotor, for installation in the towers purchased in 1916. This staircase amounted to a tower within a tower and was anchored to the original tower. These were purchased to replace the wooden stairs currently in use and were installed in this tower in 1931.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. This structure was removed because it was deemed excess to the fire detection needs of the Bureau of Forest Fire Control and additionally was classified as a "non-conforming use" in the newly established West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area.

In 1977 the U. S. Army engineers were allowed to test shaped explosive charges on the fire tower which brought the tower crashing down. Within a few weeks the remains of the tower were flown out be helicopter.

Residents of Piseco Lake made several unsuccessful attempts and please to then DEC Commissioner Peter A. A. Berle to obtain the tower for air traffic control purposes at the Piseco Airport.

Tomany Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 4 miles northwest of Arietta and west of State Rt. 30.
Status: Dismantled and scattered near the summit.

The first structure on Tomany Mt. was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in 1912. In 1916 the Conservation Commission erected a 50' Aermotor LL25 tower. It was of a lighter weight than their 1917 design and had no stairs but only a ladder up the exterior for the purpose of ingress and egress. Wooden steps were added within the structure to ease access for both the Observer and the general public in 1918 or 1919. (Click here to view a news article)

A self-supporting staircase was developed by Aermotor, for installation in the towers purchased in 1916. This staircase amounted to a tower within a tower and was anchored to the original tower. These were purchased to replace the wooden stairs currently in use and were installed in this tower in 1929, the same year the three photos appearing above were taken.

It should be noted that Orville served as the Observer on Tomany from 1929 to 1932 and then returned years later serve again from 1967 to 1970.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. This tower was later dismantled and the pieces scattered near the summit.

Wakely Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 12 miles southwest of Indian Lake.
Status: Remains and is awaiting Adirondack Park Agency approval before any restoration work can begin.

The first structure on Wakely Mt. was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in May 1911. In 1916 it was replaced with a 70' Aermotor LL25 tower. It was of a lighter weight than their 1917 design and had no stairs but only a ladder up the exterior for the purpose of ingress and egress.

Wooden steps were added within the structure to ease access for both the Observer and the general public in 1918 or 1919. (Click here to view a news article)

A self-supporting staircase was developed by Aermotor, for installation in the towers purchased in 1916. This staircase amounted to a tower within a tower and was anchored to the original tower. These were purchased to replace the wooden stairs currently in use and were installed in this tower.

This tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to                                                                                                        phase them out of service.

This tower appears on the National Historic Lookout Register and the National Register of Historic Places being placed on the latter on November 3, 2003.

A major effort is under way to save Wakely Mt Fire Tower from removal. More information is available by clicking here.

The tower and related facilities on Wakely Mountain are one step closer to being saved. The current plan is to leave the Wakely Mountain Primitive Area in tack and to provide for restoration of the trail, fire tower, cabin and helipad and to install a radio repeater station solely for the use of the New York State forest rangers and environmental conservations officers.

Opponents of this plan are liking the radio installation to some of the TV antenna and cell-phone towers that are large and visually offensive to some. The following news release from the Forest Fire Lookout Assn. offers evidence to dispel these allegations and show that the installation has no visual impact.

A local chapter of the NFL has submitted an application the the DEC to formally adopt and restore the cabin and tower.

Wakely is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

West Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 4 miles north of Raquette Lake in the Pigeon Lake Wilderness area.
Status: Removed.

The first structure on West was a 12' wooden tower erected by the Forest, Fish & Game Commission in July 1909. In 1920 it was replace with a 47' Aermotor LS40 tower by the Conservation Commission.

By 1916 each observation station included a cabin for the observers comfort. Previously, most were provided only tents for shelter. These original cabins were usually constructed of logs cut on site. Most were small and less than ideal. In the early 20's a standard design would be developed.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. This structure was removed because it was deemed excess to the fire detection needs of the Bureau of Forest Fire Control and additionally was classified as a "non-conforming use" in the newly established Pigeon Lake Wilderness Area.

Portions of this tower and the Kempshall Mt. tower were used to erect the tower that now stands at the Essex County Historical Museum in Elizabethtown NY.

Cornell Hill Fire Tower

Location: 2 1/2 miles east of Malta on US Route 9.
Status: Remains.

The Board of Supervisors of Saratoga County early in the year, appropriated the sum of $1,000 to be used for the establishment of a fire observation station on Cornell Hill located about 2 miles southeast of Saratoga Lake. Additional funds were contributed by a local landowner too defray the expense of putting up the tower, the cabin and building the necessary telephone line.

The structure on Cornell Hill is a 60' Aermotor LS40 tower erected by the Conservation Commission in 1923 and was operational in 1924.

Of historical importance, the observer pictured, Noah LaCasse served as the observer on Cornell Hill from 1925 to 1934. In 1901 Mr. LaCrosse was a guide in the party of then Vice President Theodore Roosevelt at the time he was hiking to Mt. Marcy when President McKinley was assassinated in Buffalo N. Y. With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. The tower still remains on private land known as Luther Forest and now appears on the National Historic Lookout Register.

It is planned that in the summer of 2008 the Luther Forest Corporation will have the tower dismantled and moved to a new site on the former Boy Scout Camp Saratoga which is now a part of the Wilton Wildlife Refuge.

Hadley Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 8 miles northwest of the Village of Lake Luzerne.
Status: Remains and has been restored by the Friends of Hadley Mt.

Plans for a tower on Hadley Mt were made in 1916 when satisfactory arrangements could not be made for the continuance of Ohmer Mt. Hadley is 4 3/4 miles northeast of Ohmer Mt. The Conservation Commission purchased in 1916 and installed in 1917, a 50' Aermotor LL25 tower. It was of a lightweight design and had no stairs but only a ladder up the exterior for the purpose of ingress and egress. Wooden steps were added within the structure to ease access for both the Observer and the general public. (Click here to view a news article)

A self-supporting staircase was developed by Aermotor, for installation in the towers purchased in 1916. This staircase amounted to a tower within a tower and was anchored to the original tower. These were purchased to replace the wooden stairs currently in use and were installed in this tower in 1929.

The tower was blown over during a hurricane in October 1919 but was quickly re-erected and back in operation for the 1920 season. During that same storm, Gore Mt. Tower was also blown down.

This tower was closed August 24, 1990, being one of the last active fire towers in New York State.

The tower has been restored by the Hadley Fire Tower Committee in the late 1990's and now appears on the National Historic Lookout Register and the National Register of Historic Places, being placed there in Sept 23, 2001.

Hadley is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Ohmer Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 10 miles northeast of the Village of Northville.
Status: Removed in the early 1900's.

The only structure on Ohmer was a wooden tower erected by the Conservation Commission in October 1911.

The tower was closed in 1916, as satisfactory arrangements could not be made for its continuance. A steel tower was constructed on Hadley Mt. in 1917 to replace Ohmer.

Spruce Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 2 miles northwest of South Corinth.
Status: Remains but is no open to the public due to a land title dispute.

Through funds made available by the International Paper Company, the City of Amsterdam and Saratoga County; the 73' Aermotor LS40 tower was erected by the Conservation Department during the summer of 1928.

The tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

The tower still remains and is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Crane Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 6 miles south of Wevertown.
Status: Removed.

The first structure on Crane was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in September 1911. In 1918 the Conservation Commission purchased a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower that was erected on this site in 1919.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. Crane Mt. Tower was declared surplus in 1984 and removed in 1987.

Gore Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 4 miles west of the Village of North Creek.
Status: Remains.

The first structure on Gore was an 18' wooden tower constructed by the Forest, Fish and Game Commission in August 1909. In 1918 it was replaced with a 60' Aermotor LS40 tower erected by the Conservation Commission.

The tower was blown over during a hurricane in October 1919 but was quickly re-erected and back in operation for the 1920 season. During that same storm, Hadley Mt. Tower was also blown down.

This tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service.

The tower still remains and is used as a communications relay tower with numerous dish antennas attached to it.

Gore is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Prospect Mt. Fire Tower

Location: West of the Village of Lake George.
Status: Removed.

The Forest, Fish & Game Commission, first established the 35' wooden fire observation tower in July 1910. Extensive repairs and a new roof were made to the old hotel building which is headquarters for the observer who used a cupola in the mountain top hotel for the observation station.

In 1932, a 47' Aermotor LS40 tower and observers cabin were erected by the Conservation Department replacing the previous arrangement.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season and later removed.

Swede Mt. Fire Tower

Location: South of State Rt. 8, 5 miles west of Hague.
Status: Remains on private lands and is currently closed to the public.

The first structure on Swede was a wooden tower erected by the Conservation Commission in 1912. In 1918 it was replaced with a 47' Aermotor LS40 tower.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. The tower still remains on International Paper Company lands and is closed to the public.

Black Mt. Fire Tower

Location: East side of Lake George.
Status: Remains but the tower is closed to the public.

The first structure on Black was a wooden tower constructed by the Conservation Commission in May 1911. In 1918, the Conservation Commission replaced the wooden tower with a 35' Aermotor LS40 tower.

The tower ceased operation at the end of the 1988 season. The tower was officially closed in early 1989 when the Department of Environmental Conservation determined that towers were no longer effective and decided to phase them out of service. Black Mt. is currently being used as a radio repeater and relay site for various police agencies and the tower itself is closed to the public. However, excellent views of Lake George and the surrounding area can been seen from the area adjacent to the tower site.

Of a truly historic nature, just north of the tower, is an etching or scratching on the rock that reads: "R. Rogers 1763". This was apparently done by Robert Rogers of the colonial era "Robert's Rangers". The marking has been deemed authentic by the New York State Education Department.

The pictures below show the evolution of the Black Mt. Fire Tower from the days when it was simply a fire to tower, to when it served as an approach beacon for Glens Falls Airport to the present were it's used solely as a communications site and looks very similar to the monstrosity on Cathead Mt.

Black Mt. is one of the mountains included in the Fire Tower Challenge sponsored by the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). "To complete the Challenge and receive the official full-color patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 23 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits."

Colfax Mt. Fire Tower

Location: 5 miles east of Greenwich and 4 miles not of Cambridge.
Status: Remains but is closed to the public.

The structure on Colfax is an 80' Aermotor LS40 tower erected by the Conservation Department in 1950. This tower was placed in service in 1951 reporting 23 fires and 750 visitors.

With the advent of aerial detection, this tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season. The tower still remains but is closed to the public.