Your Guide to the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge: Trails, Tips & Scenic Views
If you love a good hike with a view, the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge might just be your next outdoor obsession. This unique hiking adventure takes you to historic fire towers perched on scenic summits, each one offering breathtaking panoramas and a rewarding sense of accomplishment. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just getting started, the challenge adds purpose—and fun—to your time in the great outdoors.
Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge Overview
To complete the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge and earn the official patch, participants must summit a total of 23 mountains with standing fire towers: at least 18 of 27 qualifying peaks in the Adirondack Park, plus all 5 towers in the Catskill Park.
While climbing the towers themselves is not required — and in some cases not advised due to safety or restoration needs — each peak must still have an intact, standing fire tower at the time of your ascent.
What to Record
As you complete each hike, be sure to document the date of your ascent, and consider including additional details like:
- Trail conditions and weather
- Wildlife sightings
- Who you hiked with
- Memorable moments or impressions
The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), which launched the challenge in 2001, encourages participants to view this as more than a checklist — it’s an opportunity to connect with the land and reflect on your experiences.
Stewardship Requirement
In the spirit of conservation, you’ll also need to submit proof of public land stewardship when completing the challenge. This can include:
- A completed Leave No Trace 101 course
- Participation in a trail work day or volunteer event
- Other stewardship efforts, including those led by the New York State Chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association
The Fire Tower Challenge Pledge
As part of the submission process, hikers are asked to read and sign the ADK Fire Tower Challenge Pledge, agreeing to uphold the values of responsible recreation and environmental stewardship.
Winter Challenge Guidelines
Planning to take on the Fire Tower Winter Challenge? To earn the special "rocker" patch, all qualifying hikes must take place between December 21 and March 21.
Important: For safety reasons, do not climb the towers during winter months. Snow, ice, and high winds make the towers extremely hazardous, and gear like crampons can cause permanent damage to the wooden steps.
Instead, enjoy the hike and the views from the summit — and save the tower climbs for warmer weather.
Before you begin, ADK recommends reviewing the Leave No Trace guidelines for hiking challenges, which offer useful practices for safe, low-impact winter travel.
Adirondack Park Fire Towers
Are you ready? The Fire Tower Challenge dares you to climb a total of 23 mountains crowned with vintage fire towers.
- Adams - Elevation 3250'
- Arab - Elevation 2546'
- Azure - Elevation 2518'
- Bald (Rondaxe) - Elevation 2350
- Belfry - Elevation 1840'
- Black - Elevation 2641'
- Blue - Elevation 3750'
- Buck - Elevation 2631'
- Cathedral - Elevation 1680'
- Goodnow - Elevation 2690'
- Gore - Elevation 3563' (Ascents using ski lifts do not count)
- Hadley - Elevation 2654'
- Hurricane - Elevation 3678'
- Kane - Elevation 2180'
- Loon Lake Mountain - Elevation 3311'
- Lyon - Elevation 3819'
- Owls Head - Elevation 2812'
- Pillsbury - Elevation 3597'
- Poke-O-Moonshine - Elevation 2180'
- Snowy - Elevation 3898'
- Spruce - Elevation 2009' (Closed during hunting season)
- Stillwater Mountain - Elevation 2244' (closed during hunting season)
- St. Regis - Elevation 2874'
- Swede - Elevation 1,900' (closed during hunting season)
- Vanderwhacker - Elevation 3389'
- Wakely - Elevation 3744'
- Woodhull - Elevation 2365'
Catskill Park Fire Towers
- Balsam Lake Mountain - Elevation 3730'
- Hunter Mountain - Elevation 4039' (Ascents using ski lifts do not count)
- Overlook Mountain - Elevation 3140'
- Red Hill - Elevation 2914'
- Mount Tremper - Elevation 2724'
Take on the Challenge!
The Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge is a memorable way to experience the Adirondacks and Catskills in a whole new way. If you have any questions, you can email firetower@adk-gfs.org for more information.
Full details and a link to the Completion Form are available on the Adirondack Mountain Club website.
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