Owls Head Fire Tower
US 670, NY 29
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 670, NY 29 (view other lookouts in United States, New York) |
| Date Registered | July 27, 2006 |
| Nominated by | Bill Starr |
| Location |
Adirondack Forest Preserve Hamilton County, New York |
| Coordinates |
N 43° 57.263' W 074° 29.933' (view using Google Maps) N 43° 57' 16" W 074° 29' 56" N 43.954380° W 074.498880° |
| Elevation | 2,717 ft (828 m) |
| Built | 1919 |
| Administered by | NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation |
| Cooperators | NY Dept. of Environ. Conservation & Friends of Owls Head Fire Tower |
Description
The first Owls Head Fire Tower in the Adirondack Forest Preserve was a wooden structure with open platform erected and staffed in 1911 in response to a disastrous series of forest fires. The current 35’ Aermotor LS-40 tower with 7’x7’ metal cab was constructed by the NYS-DEC in 1919 and staffed until 1970. The observers cabin was burned in 1979. In 2003 the DEC and Friends of Owl Head Fire Tower restored the lookout and it is again open for hikers.
Map
Change Basemap
Photos
Owls Head Mtn. tower 7-22-73 by Bob Eckler
Owls Head Mtn. tower 7-22-73 by Bob Eckler
Owls Head Mtn. tower 7-22-73 by Bob Eckler
Owls Head Mtn. tower 7-22-73 by Bob Eckler
c1930 Parker Family collection
1930 observer Laurence Parker near the tower
Visit Reports
January 2, 2018: Laurie Rankin
Condition |
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| Needs paint? | Yes |
| Shutters OK? | Not Applicable |
| Condition of wood OK? | No |
| Stairs OK? | No |
| Glass intact? | No |
| Good condition? | No |
| Comments: | Owls Head fire tower needs to be painted, along with the landing boards and stair treads. The footing condition is poor. Cross braces are showing signs of significant rust. Roof needs paint and has a tear in one corner. Significant graffiti is inside the tower cab. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
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| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
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| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | Trail is well marked. Site of old Observers cabin is nicely signed. |
Staffing |
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| Staffed? | No |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
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| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | Yes |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? |
Yes
The Friends of Owls Head Fire Tower group works with the NYSDEC to maintain this fire tower. Recent changes in personnel in both have created a bit of a delay in getting maintenance done. The FFLA is working with both organizations to try to move same forward.
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