Hunter Mountain Lookout
US 131, NY 14
June 2019 photo
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 131, NY 14 (view other lookouts in United States, New York) |
| Date Registered | July 15, 1995 |
| Nominated by | Lawrence G. Paul, FFLA |
| Location |
Catskill State Forest Preserve Greene County, New York |
| Coordinates |
N 42° 10.644' W 074° 13.836' (view using Google Maps) N 42° 10' 39" W 074° 13' 50" N 42.177400° W 074.230600° |
| Elevation | 4,040 ft (1,231 m) |
| Administered by | NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation |
| Cooperators | N.Y. Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Region 4 and the Forest Fire Lookout Association |
Description
Hunter Mountain has been a landmark in the Catskill Mountains of New York since the region was settled in the late 1700s. This station is one of the first facilities operated by Forest Fire Control. Established in 1909 with a tower made of timbers found at the mountain top the station was established at the 4, 000 foot elevation of the mountain, 40 feet shy of the true summit. In 1917 the present 60' steel Aermotor LS-40 tower was erected next to the wood tower site, and it remained at the 4,000 foot elevation until in 1950 the tower was dismantled and re-erected at the current location on the summit of 4,040 feet. The tower has been fully restored and is open to the public. The facility is also registered on the National Register of Historic Places.
Map
Change Basemap
Photos
Wood Tower 1909 (NYS-DEC photo-courtesy Bill Starr)
Tower & Cabin 2/27/05 (Warren Johnsen photo-courtesy Bill Starr)
Flyover 1978 (NYS-DEC photo-courtesy Bill Starr)
Hunter Mountain Fire Tower Cabin Centennial Celebration 8/19/2017
Visit Reports
June 2, 2019: David Lemmo
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | Best condition of any lookout I have yet hiked to. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Comments: | Tower and outbuildings remain surrounded by wilderness, beyond the clearing they are located in. There isn't even a cellular signal up there. |
| Other enroachments? | Site is well cleared, with ample open space, only the onsite cabin, two picnic tables, and tower are visible within the clearing. There is an outhouse opposite the spur trail, but it is almost completely hidden, unless you are seeking it. |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | Access is by clearly marked and well defined NYSDEC blazed trails, Hike is over a shared foot and Equine path, from a slightly hidden parking area. Water and shelter are available about a mile down the trail from the summit, and lookout. |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? |
Sometimes
Facilitites exist to quarter staff, and lookout is open to visitation, but was closed up at the time of my visit.
|
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | Unsure |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | Unsure |
October 7, 2017: Laurie Rankin
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No |
| Shutters OK? | Not Applicable |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | In 2017 the NYSDEC Region 4 secured an Adventure NY Grant to have the fire tower repainted, new safety netting placed, lumber repairs as needed and a new roof (the later was courtesy of the NYSDEC Region 3. Work was completed over the summer of 2017. Thus on our visit, the tower was in a great condition! |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | Yes |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? | No Response |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | Yes |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? |
Yes
Hunter Mountain Fire Tower turned one hundred years old in 2017. The NYSDEC in cooperation with the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower Committee celebrated this event with the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to the Observers who served on the fire tower. The event included the last known surviving Observer being in attendance.Since 1996, the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower has been part of the Catskill Fire Tower Project, a joint venture of the NYSDEC, the CCCD, and the 5 Fire Tower Committees. Since the fire tower renovations were completed with assistance from the NYSDEC, the FFLA, and the Committee volunteers, the tower has been staffed by volunteers of the Committee each weekend from Memorial through Columbus Day.
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