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An easy out-and-back. One hour up. One hour down. (Watch out for rattlesnakes, though!) Trailhead info at bottom of this post.

Hiking Trail Description

The Overlook mountain fire tower trail is short, easy, and packs a ton of punch: atmospheric hotel ruins, a beautiful ledge with historic carvings, and the best fire tower view in the Catskills—and you can do it all in 3 hours!

The views from Overlook Mountain’s Fire Tower are exceptional at any time of day, but sunrise adds real magic. The first rays of the day hitting early morning mists down on the Hudson River are magical, and the rising sun brings the surrounding mountains and valleys into otherworldly relief. Several lakes and the Ashokan reservoir shimmer purple, gold and white. This is why the Overlook Mountain Fire Tower hike is one of top three hiking destinations in the Catskills.

I can’t recommend this hike enough.

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Table of Contents

Sunrise Hike Planning

How hard is the Overlook Mountain trail?

Is there overflow parking for Overlook Mountain?

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Hike Time

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail Elevation Gain

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail Notes & Gallery

Overlook Mountain House Ruins Photos

Overlook Mountain Lodge

Plattekill Waypoint

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

Overlook Mountain Rattlers

Sunrise from Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

After Dawn, The Light Changes Again

Overlook Mountain Ledge

Similar Hikes to Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail

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Sunrise Hike Planning

I planned to arrive at the tower well before sunrise. The light is amazing long before technical sunrise time. Here’s a very detailed post on how to photograph sunrises and sunsets .

For basic planning purposes, though: a) your phone will tell you when sunrise beings, and then b) you can figure out how long the hike to your chosen viewpoint will take with this standard hike-timing formula .

I packed my headlamp and made sure to be at the trailhead around 4am, figuring it would take about an hour to get to the summit. I got up there around 5:10am in plenty of time to pop off a bunch of shots before the sun came up at 5:38am.

Best of all, I had the fire tower to myself for about an hour .

In summer? At one of the premier Catskills destinations? Amazing.

Frequently Asked Questions about Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail

How hard is the Overlook Mountain trail?

The trail to Overlook Mountain is non-technical straight uphill walk. There are no rock scrambles, nothing challenging. However, it’s a solid grind along an old access road and many hikers classify it as a moderately challenging route.

Is there overflow parking for Overlook Mountain?

Yes, this is a very popular destination—one of the most popular Catskills destinations—and sometimes there are public events at KTD, the monastery right next to the main trailhead. If the main trailhead is full, and the roadside parking is also full, you can drive half a mile west to find a second trailhead on McDaniel Road . Hiking from this trailhead brings the total hike length to just under 6 miles. The extra time in the woods is a lovely way to begin and end this hike.

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail

The DEC’s Overlook Wild Mountain page states: “The summit of Overlook Mountain is one of the top three most visited locations in the Catskill Forest Preserve (after Slide Mountain and North-South Lake).”

The Overlook Mountain Fire Tower hiking trail includes…

Good parking

Easy but relentless hiking trail

Historic ruins

Amazing ledge view

Incredible 360° Hudson Valley views

Potential rattlesnake sightings on warm days

A full breakdown is provided in the hike notes below, with 33 photos .

The trail climbs steadily to the top of Overlook Mountain following an old carriage road that once transported guests in the late 19th century to the Overlook Mountain House .

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Hike Time

Allow 3 hours for this hike.

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail Elevation Gain

The elevation gain for this hike is 1300 feet (apx 400 meters).

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Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail Notes & Gallery

It is not the most interesting trail. But it is very short, not too steep and, of course, the view from the top is one of the most dramatic scenic views in the Park. So, onwards. This is the trailhead…

Trailhead gate and information board

Prepare for an hour of this view…

Two miles of this is kinda boring

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.

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

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.

Overlook Mountain House Ruins

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.

Entrance

Stone staircase

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

Overlook Mountain House

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.

Overlook Mountain House

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.)

Exploring Overlook Mountain House

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.

Overlook Lodge

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.

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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.

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

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.

Two rattlesnakes sunbathing

Rattlesnake on Overlook Mountain summit

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!

Pre-dawn, looking north

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.

Close-up of Round Top and the Blackhead Range

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.

Looking west: Overlook Tower & Ruins

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 Ruins, The Mist

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…

Sunrise, first light

Sunrise from Overlook Fire Tower

First light started to hit the mountaintops…

Eastern Devil’s Path

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

Shadow of Overlook cast onto the Burroughs Range

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…

Central Ashokan Reservoir, Woodstock Spire

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…

View from Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

View from Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

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.

Overlook Ledge

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

View from Overlook Mountain Hudson Valley overlook

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.

Ledge carvings / do not add to these!

Looking west

Great day for this dad!

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.

Similar Hikes to Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail

This is one of the shortest and easiest mountain hikes in the Catskills.

And it’s one of the most insanely scenic Catskill hikes .

It’s also incredibly popular , so you may want to plan your hike day and time accordingly.

With its fire tower and ledge views, this hike is definitely kid-friendly .

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Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail Trailhead

Large lot for one of the most popular Catskills hikes. (Also used as an overflow lot for KTD.)

Google Maps Location: 42.071002, -74.122654

The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead

Cell Service

Pretty good throughout. Unusual for the Catskills. My network is Verizon. YMMV.

3 responses to “ Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Trail ”

Lawrence Eaton says:

September 7, 2020 at 10:03 pm

Made this our Labour Day Weekend hike. Glad for your notes and history about the tower and two skeleton structures. Temperature was wonderful – very autumnal. The breeze at the top of the fire tower was something else. Hang onto you cameras/phones when you get up to the top. You won’t be disappointed (on a good day). We’re still wondering how horse drawn carriages made their way to the top?

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Sean says:

September 8, 2020 at 11:31 am

I was up on the Hunter fire tower yesterday and almost got blown out of it!

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Sean says:

September 8, 2020 at 11:33 am

Those horses worked hard. They were used all over the Catskills for logging, pulling massive loads, etc.

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The parent mountain for this hike is Overlook .