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Difficulty: 4 out of 10 (short-ish hike with mostly gentle inclines)
Distance: 2.8 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 1.5 Hours
Total ascent: 553 ft
Max elevation: 1,330 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take a short hike to a fire tower with awesome views of the New York City skyline (with lots of other non-skyline-related beauty, too).
Difficulty: 6 out of 10 (long hike with steady, gentle inclines)
Distance: 6.0 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 3 Hours
Total ascent: 1,214 ft
Max elevation: 3,723 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You enjoy beautiful trails and fire towers with gigantic views. Who doesn’t like those things?
Difficulty: 8 out of 10 (long slog up a big fat mountain)
Distance: 6.5 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 4 Hours
Total ascent: 2,192 ft
Max elevation: 2,766 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to huff and puff up a mountain to see some righteous views from one of the five Catskill fire towers.
Difficulty: 5 out of 10 (hilly stroll with some steep-ish stretches)
Distance: 2.8 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 2.5 hours
Total ascent: 837 ft
Max elevation: 3,057 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take a relatively short stroll to a fire tower with a gorgeous view of the Catskills. Also, you appreciate attention to detail in your outhouses.
Difficulty: 9 out of 10 (steep, rocky, long-ish climb up a big fat mountain)
Distance: 5.0 miles, Partial Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 4.5 Hours
Total ascent: 2,217 ft
Max elevation: 4,071 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to haul yourself up the second-highest peak in the Catskills to see some amazing views.
Difficulty: 4 out of 10 (short, moderate climb)
Distance: 2.0 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 1.5 hours (or 3 hours, if you bring my kids)
Total ascent: 485 ft
Max elevation: 1,822 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to climb a small(ish) hill to a fire tower with some seriously sweet views.
Difficulty: 5, 7, or 10 out of 10 (depending on how far you choose to go)
Distance: 4.4 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 1.5 hours (overlook), 3 hours (overlook + fire tower), 5.5 hours (7.7-mile beast loop)
Total ascent: 1,561 ft
Max elevation: 1,653 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to see some gorgeous views at one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Hudson Valley, and climbing 1,000 vertical feet (or more) to get there is not a deal breaker.
Difficulty: 3 out of 10 (short uphill stroll)
Distance: 1.5 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 1.5 Hours
Total ascent: 400 ft
Max elevation: 1,314 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take an easy (well, you know, relatively easy) stroll up a gravel road to a fire tower with a great view. Or perhaps you’re looking for a hike you can do while pushing a stroller.
Difficulty: 7 out of 10 (long, steady climb)
Distance: 5 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 3 Hours
Total ascent: ft
Max elevation: ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You’re looking for a strenuous hike with so much to do at the top that the fire tower somehow isn’t the main attraction.
Difficulty: 6 out of 10 (steep, relatively short climb)
Distance: 1.9 miles, Partial Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 2 - 3 Hours
Total ascent: 926 ft
Max elevation: 1,415 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You’re looking for a steep climb to a big payoff. And also, you think it sounds like fun to climb a swaying, 90-ft structure in the middle of the woods.
Difficulty: 3 out of 10
Distance: 2.2 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 1.5 Hours
Total ascent: 299 ft
Max elevation: 430 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want a short, easy hike to a fire tower with some crazy panoramic views.
