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A quick out-and-back to superb fire tower views. Trailhead info at bottom of this post.

Hiking Trail Description

Tremper Mountain Fire Tower offers incredible 360° views of dozens of classic Catskill mountains.

AllTrails rates this trail as difficult — and this route has the reputation of being steep — but it felt moderate to me. 1,950 feet of elevation gain over 3 miles is only 650 feet of elevation gain per mile. That’s not too bad, really. I was tired at the top, for sure, but the grade is a pretty consistent 30-35° almost the whole way.

There are plenty of steeper trails in the Catskills where the grade approaches and exceeds 45°/100% for long stretches: the west and east sides of Plateau, Becker Hollow on Hunter, Lost Clove, etc.

Climbing Tremper Mountain from any direction is definitely a huffer, but it’s not killer-level.

Compare this route with a quieter trail to the Tremper fire tower from Willow .

Table of Contents

Parking Area

The Climb

Baldwin Memorial Lean-To

Tremper Mountain Spring

Tremper Mountain Lean-To & Fire Tower

Tremper Mountain Fire Tower

Tremper Mountain Fire Tower Views

Descent

Similar Hikes

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Parking Area

The lot for this very popular hike is large and long. It’s right on what the NYNJTC map calls Old Route 28 but what Google Maps calls Mt Tremper-Phoenicia Road. I got there by turning right off Route 28 (traveling west from Kingston), then left at the crossroads in Mt Tremper. Very straightforward.

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Tremper Mountain Fire Tower Hiking Trail

I started this hike at 4:30 am to get to the summit by sunrise, so a few of these pics are in darkness. Later, on my way back down, I reverse-shot the route in sunlight so you can see the key waypoints.

There are two small footbridges at the start of the trail…

There are a few short steep sections right away…

…but the trail is not hard, and you even lose a little elevation on the way to the first junction.

At this junction, turn right and head uphill along the old jeep trail .

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The Climb

From the junction, the red-blazed Phoenicia Trail leads to the summit in about 2½ miles via a steep climb and a series of very helpful switchbacks.

Forest sunrise

At 1400’ or so you’ll see a large quarry in the woods to your left.

Quarry / rattlesnakes

This is the quarry on Mt Tremper where many many timber rattlesnakes are said to den together. It’s at 42.07217, -74.29413 and very close to the trail — but actually, even here, seeing a rattler is quite rare.

Warning! In warmer months, this hike includes potential exposure to rattlesnakes .

A little further along, I noticed some Hemlock Woolly Adelgid on 3-4 hemlock trees…

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

I later reported this infestation using the iMapInvasives app .

After the quarry, the first switchback curves sharply to the left around a hairpin turn to ease your climb.

Baldwin Memorial Lean-To

At 2100’, after climbing short steep section and turning right around a corner, you’ll notice a small trail to your right. This leads to the first to two lean-tos on Mt Tremper, the very beautifully situated Baldwin Memorial Lean-To.

Baldwin Memorial Lean-To

Tremper Mountain Spring

Back on the main trail, at 2250’, a very short side trail leads to a spring . Great place to soak a bandana or refill your water — just make sure to filter or treat it to make it potable.

Spring pipe

Tremper Mountain Lean-To & Fire Tower

After about 3 miles in total, you’ll pass the second lean-to on your left. On this morning, another hiker was sleeping in the lean-to with her dog so I didn’t take a photo.

The trail continues north and east via the Warner Creek trail (blue blazes) Jessop Road in Willow, or to Silver Hollow / Plateau / Edgewood.

Summit trail s

Tremper Mountain Fire Tower

The DEC describes the tower : “This fire tower is believed to be the original structure built circa 1917, and used for fire observation until 1971. The 47-foot tower was placed in its present location because of the vast sections of forest preserve not visible from either the Hunter or Belleayre fire towers.”

Tremper Mountain Fire Tower

If the cabin is locked, just take your shots from the steps below the cabin. You can still enjoy amazing views in all directions.

Tremper Mountain Fire Tower Views

The fire tower is not oriented strictly north/south. It’s oriented northwest/southeast.

Look first at the reservoir, which is almost directly south. This is the west side of the reservoir, where the Boiceville trailhead for the Ashokan Rail Trail is located.

Now work you way clockwise, from left to right. The main points on display in order are…

South

Ashokan Reservoir

To its left: Ticetonyk

To its right: Ashokan High Point

Looking south

South West

Mount Pleasant (the long low mountain)

Look over Mount Pleasant to see Wittenberg’s distinctive shark fin in the distance

On Wittenberg‘s left: Friday & Balsam Cap

On Wittenberg’s right: Slide Mountain

Burroughs Range

Wittenberg & Slide Mtn

West

Now, looking directly west you can see Giant Ledge and Panther

To their right: Balsam & Belleayre

Next: Halcott & Sleeping Lion

Next: Mount Sherrill & North Dome

Giant ledge on the left, Panther in the middle, Balsam on the right…

Panther Mountain

Close-up of Giant Ledge …

Giant Ledge

By now, you have turned almost 180° and are looking north…

North

St Anne’s Peak and West Kill which (at 355°) is almost directly due north

To their right: Southwest Hunter & Hunter Mountain

St Anne’s Peak & West Kill

Hunter Mountain & Plateau

North East

My favorite part: looking through Stony Clove Notch to Lockwood Gap, the col between Black Dome & Blackhead

Looking through Stony Clove notch to Lockwood Gap

East

The large mountain nearby is Tremper’s northeastern lobe

Behind it: Plateau’s long flat summit ridge — it’s about 2 miles in length

Olderbark obscures Sugarloaf (the only Devil’s Path mountain you can’t see from the tower)

Twin & Indian Head

Plattekill & Overlook

Look directly east (90°) just over Overlook’s lower ridge to the Southern Taconics: Mount Frissell, Brace & South Brace (40 miles away)

Mount Tobias sits to the right of Cooper Lake Looking through Stony Clove notch to Lockwood Gap

Tremper’s other lobe

Mount Tobias at Sunrise

Detail

And then, finally, you’re back looking south to Ticetonyk and the Ashokan Reservoir.

This is such an amazing view. Tremper Mountain is spectacularly and centrally located. It’s surrounded by so many Catskill 3500 mountains and beautiful lower peaks.

I can’t wait to revisit this tower in winter for the snowy version of these views.

Descent

Including stop-offs and rests, the climb to the summit took me about 1h 49m. The trek straight back down to the parking area took 1h 29m.

Similar Hikes

For its amazing scenic views alone, this is definitely one of the best hikes in the area.

It is a moderate Catskill hike that some people may find difficult.

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Tremper Mountain Fire Tower Classic Hike Trailhead

Large, busy lot serving one of the most popular hikes in the Catskills. (DEC says 10 car capacity.)

Google Maps Location: 42.066106, -74.303294

The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead

Cell Service

None at trailhead. Okay LTE signal up high. My network is Verizon. YMMV.

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The parent mountain for this hike is Tremper .