Continuing My Quest to Climb Vermont's Fire Towers!

[ctyanky]

Weekend hiking weather has been nothing short of amazing here in the Northeast and this weekend promises more of the same! So much so, that in my attempt to "challenge myself" for my VT fall foliage hikes, I am hiking CT's highest peak in Salisbury CT to see the Lion's Head Overlook! I'm so excited and this week I am partnering with my gym's stair master!

Anyways, there are quite a few fire towers in Vermont and thus far, I have climbed the one in Stratton and Mt. Olga. The 360 views on these towers were unbelievable. We had ultimately clear days for both and the climbs to the tops were well worth it! I met Charles (ixl) our talented SOV photographer from this forum two years ago for Mt. Olga (Molly Stark State Park near Wilmington) and he remarked that it was the best viewing day he had ever had there. I would recommend choosing the clearest day you can to climb the towers for views that will render you speechless!

Next fall, we are hiking Spruce Mountain's fire tower in Plainfield, VT as it will be during the time I am in Peacham for the week. So excited! Here are a few links to get you interested!

http://nhlr.org/nhlr.org/lookouts/us/vt ... ire-tower/

https://www.eastcoasthiker.com/trails/sprucemountainvt

I would love to add Elmore Mountain's Fire Tower this fall and Mt. Ascutney's tower but they may have to wait for another season! After reading topics on Belvidere's hike to the fire tower, I decided that I am certainly not up to the skill level required for this trek. It even sounded scary! There is a slight chance to climb the one on Burke Mountain if it is doable when I am at Burke's Fall Foliage Festival.

Here is a great link for the fire towers in Vermont! I hope you can find the time to enjoy them because the views are over the top (so to speak!) mind blowing!!!

https://vtskiandride.com/fire-tower-hikes/

https://www.amazon.com/360-Degrees-Verm ... 1888021128

I personally love this website! I've gotten lots of recommendations for all things Vermont here and the link is great for the fire tower hikes with photos!

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/vermont ... -hikes-vt/

Enjoy! CT

[ctyanky]

Yay! Looks like tomorrow (7/14) I may be hiking the summit of Mt. Ascutney in Windsor VT to climb the fire tower there. It appears that it will be in the 50's tonight in the area so getting there early looks to be a great option! Very excited to check this one off my "tower bucket list" and it is only a 2 1/2 hour drive from my CT location staying on 91. I'm hoping the black flies are at a minimum and there is a breeze. We do plan on driving the toll road to the summit and taking the slot/slab trails to where they meet with the others. I read that the hang gliding lookout area is great! My dear forum friend bvahjen, former Chester VT resident, emailed me (he has hiked the trails from base to summit) said it was a moderate climb so we'll see!

http://hikenewengland.com/Ascutney081011.php

https://fpr.vermont.gov/mt-ascutney-state-park

https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/tra ... state-park

I read where there is a nice place to eat on the way home called "Exit Ate" for Sunday brunch in Ascutney (which we will need) so if anyone has been, please advise!

[ctyanky]

Geezum, I don't know how I missed this one but another fire tower hike is in my near future! Okemo Mountain, Ludlow VT, has a nice drive up to the top on a paved road, and from there you can hike to the fire tower. It is only 2 1/2 hours from my home and I think we are saving this one for after Labor Day and before I head to northern VT for my 2 week foliage vacation. I just got an email from my forum friend and former Chester VT resident bvahjen, and he seems to think that there is no fee to drive up the road. Another one to knock off the fire tower hike passion bucket list. If we get another cool weekend in August, I might just head up there! Once I get on a roll with an adventure, I can't seem to stop!

I follow this amazing VT blogger's site and she has some more descriptions of the fire towers.

http://www.happyvermont.com/2016/08/05/ ... -to-visit/

https://www.okemo.com/

It is a good possibility that we will combine it with the Chester Fall Foliage Festival in September, (been at least 3 times) and a stop at the Green Mountain Sugar House for a maple creemee and lots of made in Vermont gifts! I just love that place, such friendly staff and owners. Plus, I'm plumb out of VERMONT maple syrup and I'm in maple syrup withdrawal.

https://www.gmsh.com/

http://chesterfallfestival.org/wp/

[ctyanky]

Today I knocked off another tower hike (Okemo) so I have five left (not counting Glastenbury, because I am not up to the skill level for the trail leading to the tower unfortunately). This has become a passion of mine and I hope to complete the list in the next two years. If I have left any out, please let me know!!!!! So far I have done Stratton, Mt. Olga, Mt. Ascutney and now Okemo.

Here are the six I have left to do. I highly recommend tower hikes. The views at the top are extreme!

Spruce Mountain, Plainfield (this October)
Burke Mtn, Burke (this October during their fall festival)
Elmore Mountain, Elmore
Bald Mountain, Westmore
Allis State Park, Randolph
Belvidere Mountain, Belvidere

[ctyanky]

Someone just messaged me from a major VT based site that I missed listing the fire tower at Belvidere! How wonderful that others are reading this forum! And I do appreciate that! I have added the fire tower to my list above to do in another season.

The summit of Belvidere Mountain is occupied by a 50 foot tall Fire Tower that was first built in the early 1900’s and recently rebuilt in the early 1990’s. The summit is partially wooded and without the Fire Tower it has excellent views to the East. Though from the top of the Fire Tower you will have spectacular views of the Green Mountains, the Cold Hollow Mountains, several Canadian Mountains and if it’s clear enough, Mount Washington in the Presidential Range of New Hampshire, 71 miles away.

[From_the_NEK]

CT, Unless you prefer hiking the entire mountain (via the Red Trail from the base area parking lot), the Burke tower is VERY easy to get to if you drive to the summit (only about 150 yards and 50 feet of elevation gain to get to it from the parking area).

Great views from up there of all of northern VT, and NH.
Tower 1-8026 by Tim_NEK, on Flickr
From 2016:
Fog in the Valleys 2016 by Tim_NEK, on Flickr

The most overlooked tower in Vermont is Mt Monadnock. It has been a long time since I've been there but I hear the tower has been fixed up to make climbing it safe again.
http://monadnocktrails.com/MountMonadnockVermont.php

[ctyanky]

Hi Tim! Great to see you back here on the foliage forum! I have a couple of comments and questions. First, as always, these are stunning views. Was the second one from your Vermont based magazine award for the double page inside spread? I recognize it and it is my favorite! Was it taken from the tower at Burke?

Secondly, thank you so much for the Mt. Monadnock tower listing. I never heard of it! I'm definitely adding it to my tower hike bucket list and I really appreciate the link. I'm wondering why I never came across it in my searches. I have quite a few now to conquer as someone else mentioned the Belvidere tower I was missing, and now I will include this one.

Questions: 1) are the climb logistics to the summit from the toll road and/or the lift ride - Sherburne Express, see my last update on the foliage lift ride post - that they are doing on the Burke Fall Festival the same? (only about 150 yards and 50 feet of elevation gain to get to it from the parking area). The reason I ask is that we are not driving the toll road rather taking the lift. I drove the toll road with Phil and I thought it was a bit scary! Or he may have driven like that to make me crazy!

2) Since you are the expert in the NEK, can you tell me how to get to the hike over look that takes on the views of Lake Willoughby from the SE corner rock? I have seen it several times on the VermontbyVermonters Instagram (my favorite) and I can not for the life of me find the directions to get there. We hope to do it this coming fall season.

Thanks again for your gorgeous photos! CT

[From_the_NEK]

Was the second one from your Vermont based magazine award for the double page inside spread? I recognize it and it is my favorite! Was it taken from the tower at Burke?

This shot is looking north from the Burke tower. However it was not one of my photos published as two page spreads in Vermont Life. However, I think it (or a similar shot) may have been published in one of the Kingdom Guide.

Questions: 1) are the climb logistics to the summit from the toll road and/or the lift ride - Sherburne Express, see my last update on the foliage lift ride post - that they are doing on the Burke Fall Festival the same? (only about 150 yards and 50 feet of elevation gain to get to it from the parking area). The reason I ask is that we are not driving the toll road rather taking the lift. I drove the toll road with Phil and I thought it was a bit scary! Or he may have driven like that to make me crazy!

The Sherburne lift starts at the Base lodge and only goes 1/4 of the way up the mountain. There is no lift ride to the actual summit of Burke during the fall. You have to drive (or hike) to the top.

2) Since you are the expert in the NEK, can you tell me how to get to the hike over look that takes on the views of Lake Willoughby from the SE corner rock? I have seen it several times on the VermontbyVermonters Instagram (my favorite) and I can not for the life of me find the directions to get there. We hope to do it this coming fall season.

The south hiking trail for Mt Pisgah is what you are looking for. If you are heading north on Route 5A, the trail head and parking area are on your right at the top of the hill before you start descending toward the lake (about a 1/2 mile before getting to the south beach area). The overlook is a little over a mile up the trail. https://www.hikenewengland.com/Pisgah090516VT.php

[ctyanky]

Thanks for all this info Tim. Is Pulpit Rock at the Willoughby overlook then?

Also, I am taking the lift ride up separately from the hike to the fire tower. My VT friends don't want to hike after being at the fair all day so I'll go up myself to the summit and climb the tower. I understand I have to drive the toll road until the campground, park, and then walk up to the summit. Hopefully, it will be a beautiful day for the Burke Fall Festival!

[ctyanky]

I'm trying to update this fire tower list and if I'm not mistaken, Bolton Valley Resort has a newly rebuilt fire tower! I'm including two links, the first of which is an employee's blog with a photo of the amazing 360 long views from the tower. The second is a link that shows all the hiking trails and the trail (#38) which leads to the tower! (Top right hand corner of the second link).

This hike climbs about 1000’ vertical feet with some sustained pitches along the way. Work roads are well established but can get steep - but the 360-degree views from the newly rebuilt tower are well worth it! Mansfield to the North, Camels Hump to the South, Worcester Mountains East, and perhaps the single most beautiful sunset view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks to the West!

This one will be on my fire tower hiking quest for sure.

https://www.boltonvalley.com/summer/is- ... or-a-hike/

https://www.boltonvalley.com/summer/hiking/

[ctyanky]

Hello fire tower climbers! Happy Labor Day Weekend! I found an excellent site for New Hampshire Fire Towers and a brochure you can print out. It's pretty cool! It will be on my "NH Fire Tower Bucket List".

What better way to immerse yourself in the forest and become one with Mother Nature! And those 360 views!!!!!!

https://www.nh.gov/nhdfl/documents/towe ... ochure.pdf

https://www.nh.gov/nhdfl/documents/fire-tower-map.pdf

https://www.nh.gov/nhdfl/natural-herita ... /index.htm

I've not been to any NH fire towers but Magalloway Mountain in Pittsburg is so beautiful, that would be one I would try to do first.