Hunter Mountain Lookout
US 131, NY 14
June 2019 photo

June 2019 photo - courtesy of David Lemmo

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)

Wood Tower 1909 (NYS-DEC photo-courtesy Bill Starr)

Tower & Cabin 2/27/05 (Warren Johnsen photo-courtesy Bill Starr)

Tower & Cabin 2/27/05 (Warren Johnsen photo-courtesy Bill Starr)

Flyover 1978 (NYS-DEC photo-courtesy Bill Starr)

Flyover 1978 (NYS-DEC photo-courtesy Bill Starr)

Hunter Mountain Fire Tower Cabin Centennial Celebration 8/19/2017

Hunter Mountain Fire Tower Cabin Centennial Celebration 8/19/2017 - courtesy of Hunter Mountain Fire Tower Committee

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.