Hiking Overlook Mountain and the Overlook Mountain Fire Tower in the Catskills high above Woodstock

The hike up Overlook Mountain via the Overlook Spur Trail is a popular hike in the Catskill Mountains. It offers stunning vistas, a historic fire tower, and for us doing an evening hike, a chance to witness the sun setting over the surrounding mountains. The trail is well-marked, follows an old road, and is relatively accessible, making it suitable for hikers of various skill levels. It's 2.5 miles from the trailhead to the summit of Overlook Mountain, making for a 5 mile round-trip hike.
The trail begins at the Overlook Mountain Trailhead, located at Meads Mountain Road, Woodstock, NY 12498. There is a small parking area available, but it can fill up quickly during peak times.
Just past the trailhead kiosk and trail register (sign in), the road/trail starts off climbing gently, but becomes more strenuous as it makes its way up Overlook. As you hike, you'll traverse through the forest, with occasional glimpses of the surrounding mountains. There's also plenty of Mountain Laurel along the trail, so if you hit it at the right time of the year (June generally), the blooms will be stunning.
Less than a mile from the summit, you'll encounter the remains of the Overlook Mountain House, a former hotel that burned down in the early 20th century. You can walk through most of the ruins, just be careful as you make your way through as there are loose stones and sudden drops in some areas. For more history of the Overlook Mountain House: www.atlasobscu....
After the ruins, and the cell tower just above them, the trail becomes steeper and narrower as you hike towards the fire tower. As you near the summit, the trail levels off, and you'll soon reach the cabin below the Overlook Mountain Fire Tower. It's a short walk to the open area of the summit where the Fire Tower sits. Climb the tower for panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains, Hudson Valley, and beyond.
We timed it so we arrived about a half an hour before the sunset began, giving us time to enjoy a snack, climb the fire tower, and get into position for the best view of the sunset on the Fire Tower itself.
Since this is an in and out hike, you descend along the same trail you came up. Just as it was a stead ascent, it's a steady descent.
This is moderate hike without any difficult sections, just a long steady climb. The total hike is about 5 miles roundtrip. You'll gain about 1360 feet of elevation along the hike.
You can find this hike on:
Catskill Trails Map Set - amzn.to/2Qqr13u
Trails Illustrated Map for the Catskill Park amzn.to/3sfsYxW
Catskill Trails Guidebook - alnk.to/aALNHoj
Hiking the Catskills Guidebook - alnk.to/fazHLWF
More info on the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge - catskillfiretowers.org
Find out more about the Catskill Park at the Catskills Visitor Center - catskillsvisit...
Hiker Trash Husbands Newsletter - www.hikertrash...
Hiker Trash Husbands Merchandise!
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We offer Hiking, Backpacking and Camping Services through our guiding company, Hike On Guides, and can guide you on this hike - hikeonguides.com
Advice and Gear Recommendations from the Hiker Trash Husbands
Hiking Gear Guide - www.hikertrash...
Day Hiking Backpack Recommendations - www.hikertrash...
Recommended Gear through our Amazon Shop - www.amazon.com...
Gear we used and/or carried on this hike:
Osprey Talon 22 Backpack - alnk.to/e70DIUl
Osprey Levity Backpack - alnk.to/aAJsR7d
Altra Lone Peak Hiking Shoes - alnk.to/44PrOq5
Deliberate Life Designs Sandals - www.deliberate...
Darn Tough Midweight Hiking Socks - alnk.to/2jG24Jf
Energizer LED Headlamp - amzn.to/3cmGkSX
NEMO Chipper Reclaimed Closed-Cell Foam Seat Pad - alnk.to/bimw1Y7
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filters - amzn.to/2RIislz
Patagonia Nine Trails Shorts - alnk.to/clT0k0f
EMS Techwick Essentials Sleeveless Tee - alnk.to/h6C7rei
Garmin Instinct Watches - alnk.to/aAIaA1K
Garmin InReach Explorer+ GPS - alnk.to/c02eqB5
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