Fire Tower Stash Traditional Geocache

It is a 2 1/2 mile hike on an old carriage trail to the cache. Along the way you will pass the remains of the last of three hotels that existed on Overlook. The views from the fire tower include Albany to the north and south to the Shawangunk Mountains near New Paltz. To the east you can see the Mid-Hudson Valley and beyond to the Massachusetts and Connecticut borders and west to the heart of the Catskill Mountains.

The tower on Overlook Mountain (el. 3,140 feet) is the newest of the five remaining fire towers in the Catskill Park, having been at its present location since only 1950. However, the tower itself is much older as it was originally constructed in 1927 on Gallis Hill, just west of Kingston. The Overlook tower reaches 60' in height, and offers incredible views of the Hudson River valley, the Ashokan Reservoir, and the Devil's Path. Along with the Balsam Lake Mountain Tower, Overlook closed in 1988. Overlook Mountain is surely one of the most interesting in all of the Catskills. Its close proximity to Woodstock has made it a popular destination for tourists. Although the Overlook Mountain Wild Forest only covers 590 acres, its rocky slopes make for a very interesting day hike. In additon to providing a habitat for the timber rattlesnake, a protected species that only lives in one other area of the Catskills, the summit is covered with red oaks (trees usually found on lower slopes and in valleys, not 3,100' above sea level), and some red spruce/balsam fir trees (those typical over 3,300'). In 1871, the Overlook Mountain House opened its doors to guests, joining numerous others in the Catskills. This hotel had the distinction of being the highest, at 2,920'. The Mountain House could house 300 guests and, despite burning down twice, prospered until around the time of the stock market crash. In the following years, it was rebuilt (but never opened to guests) and eventually looted and abandoned, leaving the ruins that can still be seen along the trail.

The open ledges around Overlook's summit and exposed bedrock along the trail offer many clues about the geologic history of the Catskills. An open, south-facing rock ledge just prior to reaching the tower, offers some of the most spectacular views of how the Hudson Valley abruptly changes into the Catskill Mountains. One trip up Overlook and you will realize why this mountain was the focus of many works by famous Hudson River School painters in the 1800s.

Trails:

The Fire Tower Cache can be reached from two different directions. The most popular route begins at the trailhead of the red-blazed Overlook Spur Trail along Meads Mountain Road, about 2 miles outside of the village of Woodstock. This 2.4-mile-long trail ends at the summit of Overlook Mountain. after hiking 1.6 miles, you will pass by the ruins of the Overlook Mountain House.

The tower may also be reached from the north by beginning in Platte Clove where The Catskill Center has a 206-acre preserve. At the preserve, you will find a trail designated by light blue markers which leads south (about 1 mile) until it intersects with the Devil's Path at the Devil's Kitchen Lean-to. From this point, the blue-blazed Overlook Trail leads 3.6 miles past Echo Lake and up to the Overlook Spur Trail.

Congrats to Rusty O Junk for FTF on 21 December 06!