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New route. Trailhead info at bottom of this post.

Hiking Trail Description

This new, very popular route to the Red Hill Fire Tower is spectacular.

The new trail, which opened in February 2021, greatly improves access to the Red Hill Fire Tower — one of the six towers currently featured in the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge .

This is one of the best short hikes in The Catskills. It’s also a good choice for your first sunrise hike .

The New York DEC opening announcement outlines: “ Tahawus Trails built the new blue-blazed trail that traverses both city and State Forest Preserve lands through rocky outcroppings and hemlock-laden forests. The 1.4 miles of trail intersects with the existing trail, leading up to the 60-foot tall Red Hill Fire Tower that was constructed in 1920. Hikers can climb nine flights of stairs to the top for unsurpassed views of the Catskill peaks and Rondout Reservoir.”

The tower itself was re-opened to the public in 2000 by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and NYSDEC .

Table of Contents

Red Hill Trail Fire Tower Trail Notes & Gallery

Blue/Yellow Junction

Red Hill Summit & Fire Tower

Red Hill Fire Tower Sunrises & Sunsets

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Red Hill Fire Tower Hiking Trail

The new blue-blazed 1.4 mile hiking trail includes…

Much better parking in a large lot

A fun winding route

Hemlock stands, fern groves, and rocky outcroppings

Many beautiful sections of stone steps to ease your ascent

A junction that connects to the existing summit trail that leaves out none of the fun stuff

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Red Hill Trail Fire Tower Trail Notes & Gallery

This new trail starts at a lower elevation than the classic trail to Red Hill — which is still a lovely hike to this fantastic tower. The two routes converge at a junction at 2500’ and continue to the summit at 2979’ via the same trail.

The new trailhead also includes a portable toilet , which I was very grateful for on this hike.

Follow the blue blazes and enjoy the best of what modern sustainable trail design can do for a hike…

Blue blazed new trail

The forest is a mix of hemlock stands, open deciduous woods, and sweet fern glades like this…

Fern grove on blue blazed new trail

I loved the new route and its charming details…

Blue blazed new trail

Blue blazed new trail

Rock channel on blue blazed new trail

Blue/Yellow Junction

Just below 2500’ the blue trail ends at a junction . Turn right and continue the remainder of the route uphill along the classic yellow trail .

You can stop along the way at apx 2700’ to visit the Red Hill spring . On this day it had all but run dry — but, after rainfall, it’s a really lovely spot.

Red Hill Summit & Fire Tower

The section above the spring is the steepest part of this hike, but it’s pretty short. In a few minutes, you’ll find yourself on the incredibly sweet summit of Red Hill.

An observer’s cabin , outhouse , two picnic tables and a seemingly manicured stretch of grassy lawn make this maybe the most delightful mountain peak in the Catskills. (Please treat it kindly .)

Red Hill summit cabin and outhouse

Red Hill Fire Tower

The 360° view from the Red Hill fire tower is so lovely. The large mountains to the east are Slide , Table and Peekamoose .

Red Hill Fire Tower view

Table & Peekamoose at sunset

Farmstead at sunset

To the north, you can see Graham Mountian and Doubletop — both now off-limits to public hiking .

View of Graham and Doubletop

Red Hill Fire Tower Sunrises & Sunsets

Red Hill is a short hike no matter how you do it. This new route only took me two hours for the full out-and-back. This makes Red Hill an especially appealing destination for sunrise hikes and sunset hikes .

I’ve been there at both times. At sunrise, the sun rises directly behind Table & Peekamoose, and it’s truly spectacular.

Sunset from Red Hill Fire Tower

I left around sunset and still only needed my headlamp for the last half-a-mile of my descent. (But remember, for headlamps: “Two is one, and one is none” — i.e. always carry a spare.)

Similar Hikes

The Classic Route to Red Hill is also super enjoyable — and it’s also a little shorter and easier.

Red Hill is one of The Catskills’ six amazing Fire Towers — but a seventh is on the way.

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Red Hill Fire Tower from Denning Trailhead

Large new lot. Please check the ground around your car before you leave.

Google Maps Location: 41.935107, -74.529417

The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead

Cell Service

Very good LTE signal up high. I lost signal on the way down just above the junction. My network is Verizon. YMMV.

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The parent mountain for this hike is Red Hill .