Fire Tower Hike #1: Red Hill Fire Tower in Claryville NY

Updated 9/7/23: Due to a number of requests, we are doing this hike again on Sunday 10/1/23!

Our hike to the Red Hill Fire Tower in Claryville NY is coming up Sunday September 24th, weather permitting. There are two trails to the tower, this is the newer trail starting from the Denning Road Trailhead parking lot – approximate address is 2205 Denning Rd, Claryville, NY 12725 on google maps. Attached are maps of the area. In summary, from NY 55 we’ll take Claryville Road (County route 19) straight into Denning Road for about 7 miles. The trailhead parking is on the right, just before a bridge with prominent guardrails. It’s a newer lot, it does not show up on street view. It can be seen on Bing Maps.

I recommend using nav to get to the general area. Use Waze to go to Denning Town Hall and then the parking lot is about 1.5 miles further. Waze does not have much details of Denning Road.
 

Here is the link to the Alltrails description of the trail: Explore Red Hill Fire Tower via Denning Road. You can also read more about the trail from the Catskills Visitor Center.

PREPARATION:

• Note that there does not seem to be any facilities at the base of the mountain.
• Count about a 2 hour drive from Danbury.
• Meet in the parking area at 9AM
• You can read general info about preparing for the hike on our website: Fire Tower Challenge.

AFTER THE HIKE:

After the hike we could stop by somewhere and have a late lunch. Clemson Brothers Brewery in New Paltz is about an hour from the hike (in the right direction, it’s near the Thruway) and has good food and good beer. Also, but in a different direction, Marc Black will be playing on the Woodstock Town Green at 3PM after receiving the Key To Woodstock award for his many years of performing in the area. So there is plenty to do!

For details and to RSVP, please contact DSC Delegate at Large and hike leader Andre Benoit at andregbenoit@hotmail.com

Red Hill Fire Tower Trail Map

Fire Tower Hike #1: Red Hill Fire Tower in Claryville NY

It was a beautiful, sunny, cold day. Not a hard hike, as usual the last stint to the tower is steep. Some ice was still left in protected areas where it had been packed down by winter hiking so we had to be creative.

We did pass a few interesting things, including a massive, crooked tree that had been cut where it landed on the trail. Still no idea why that tree grew the way it did. A rock formation that looked like a cave right by the trail. We did discuss if a bear would have used it for hibernation.

The tower is impressive. The observation cabin was locked but we climbed the narrow staircase to the top. The tower and the shack are in a clearing with a picnic table; on a warmer day that would be a great place for lunch. We drove to New Paltz and had lunch at Clemson Brewery. Definitely worth it! And nice drive to get there through Minnewaska State Park.