Tremper Mountain (NY) 6/27/2026

Tremper Mountain

Location: Phoenicia, New York
Mileage: 6.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1952 Feet
Trails Used: Phoenicia Trail
Views: 360 from Inside the Fire Tower Cab
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: Catskill Fire Tower Challenge/Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills)

On Friday night, we made a last-minute decision to head to New York and tackle the final Catskill Fire Tower on our list. Saturday morning, after a long drive to the trailhead parking area, we didn’t start hiking until almost 11 a.m. I was surprised to see so few cars when we arrived, so I squeezed into a spot and we geared up. The temperature was pleasant, though the humidity was high, but manageable thanks to a light breeze. 

Notably, this mountain is one of the few in the Catskills with several timber rattlesnake dens scattered around. These snakes are venomous, so it’s important to keep children close and dogs leashed.

The Catskill Fire Tower Challenge requires you to climb all eight Catskill fire towers between January 1st, 2026, and December 31st, 2026. Tremper Mountain is #7 on the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge and #17 on the Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondacks and Catskills).

The Phoenicia Trail begins just off Ulster County Route 40, with parking available for about 7–8 cars, depending on how they’re parked.

The Phoenicia Trail starts off with a pretty steep climb right after you cross the bridge, and about half a mile in, you’ll reach the old jeep road that leads up to the summit of Tremper Mountain.

The Phoenicia Trail has plenty of switchbacks and some steep, rocky stretches, but it never felt difficult to hike or tricky to navigate.

Along the Phoenicia Trail, there’s a pile of large rocks that looks like a slide but is actually an old bluestone quarry.

Another stretch of the Phoenicia Trail offered a pleasant and easy walk.

The Baldwin Memorial Lean-To sits at around 2,100 feet, with a privy nearby and a spring about an eighth of a mile up the trail. Not much water from the spring today, though.

A glimpse of the Tremper Mountain Fire Tower peeks through the trees. Standing 47 feet tall, it was built in 1917 and served until 1971, before being restored for public use in 2001.

Foundation remains right behind the fire tower on Tremper Mountain, elevation 2730 feet

The views from the fire tower cab on Tremper Mountain are stunning in every direction.

We didn’t spot any timber rattlesnakes during the entire hike, unfortunately. Overall, it was a pleasant trail that was neither too steep nor too flat. We eventually turned around and headed back to the car, passing a few hikers making their way up to the summit.

With the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge now complete, my favorite was probably Bramley Mountain or Hunter Mountain for their easy hikes and great views. My least favorite was definitely Overlook Mountain, which we tackled in winter under miserable conditions with far too many people. It was a nice change of pace from the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Adirondacks in New York.

Mount Will - Moxie Falls (ME) 6/13/2026

Mount Will 

Location: Bethel, Maine
Mileage: 3.65 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1005 Feet
Trails Used: Mount Will Trail (North and South Loop), Bushwhack
Views: None from Actual Summit, Several Ledges with 180 Degree Views
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: None

We took a three-day mini-vacation to Maine to visit Amy’s dad’s camp in Hingham. It wasn’t so much a vacation as a trip to spread some of her brother Paul’s ashes in places he loved to visit and hunt. We decided to take our time driving from New Hampshire into Maine, looking for a hike before heading to the Sterling Inn for the night. Along the way, we stopped a few times for bathroom breaks and to stretch our legs, and during one of these stops, I found a nearby hike that seemed perfect—not too long or difficult, and with great views. Mount Will is located in the Bethel Town Forest.

The trailhead parking kiosk off US Route 2 in Bethel, Maine offers a decent amount of parking for this hike.

At the junction of the Mount Will Trail loop, you can head toward either the South Cliffs or the North Cliffs. We chose the South Cliffs for our ascent.

Along the Mount Will Trail, a local school group has placed interpretive signs. It’s amazing the things you can discover while hiking.

After passing through a logged-out stretch of the Mount Will Trail, the path climbs toward the South Cliffs with a bit of steepness, but the switchbacks make the ascent more manageable.

From the South Cliffs of Mount Will, you can enjoy stunning views of Bethel and the gorgeous mountains that frame it.

The information sign just past the South Cliffs didn’t specify what kind of steps were being counted. I had us at around 4,000 for the hike so far.

The summit of Mount Will, at 1,729 feet, was reached after a short and easy bushwhack, but it was wooded, offering no views.

Several peaks—and a few peeks—come into view as we head north toward the stunning North Cliff lookout.

A vernal pool lies between the South Cliff and North Cliff areas. These seasonal wetlands usually fill with water in the spring and dry up in the summer, providing great habitat for frogs, turtles, and salamanders.

There are more interpretive signs on the North Cliff side of the Mount Will Trail, and I had no idea about the information on either of them.

This sign points the way to the North Cliff viewpoints.

The north cliff offers views stretching northward, of course, though my knowledge of Maine’s peaks is fairly limited.

The descent from the North Cliffs was quick and easy, with a few switchbacks guiding the way down the trail. We only came across one other person and their dog during the entire loop. Overall, it was a pleasant hike with decent views and minimal difficulty—a perfect late spring or early summer day out on the trail.

Moxie Falls

Location: Moxie Gore, Maine
Mileage: 1.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 150 Feet
Trails Used: Moxie Falls Path
Views: Views from boardwalks around the falls
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Hiking Lists: None

After checking into the Sterling Inn for our Saturday night stay, we decided to visit nearby Moxie Falls, one of Maine’s tallest waterfalls, featuring a single drop of about 90 feet, before grabbing some food. The parking lot for the falls, located off Lake Moxie Road, is a decent size and can accommodate several cars. A light breeze kept the bugs away, making the short hike to the falls even more enjoyable.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Most of the trail to Moxie Falls is wide and made of compacted dirt, making it an easy walk with minimal elevation change.

About half a mile down the trail to Moxie Falls, you’ll come across a woods road featuring a welcome sign for the Moxie Falls Scenic Area.

                                                                  

From the sign to Moxie Falls, steps and boardwalks guide you all the way down to the waterfall.

       

                                   

                                                                                                            

Moxie Falls as seen from one of the boardwalk viewing spots.

                                                                          

The view of Moxie Falls from above was stunning. I got as close as I could without risking a fall or hurting myself.

After a quick walk uphill, we made our way back to the car and headed to the Kennebec River Pub and Brewery for a bite to eat before returning to the Inn. It’s always a treat to witness Mother Nature at work and the power of rushing water, and these falls were such a fun stop to visit.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                            

Thompson Hill - Murdough Hill - Little Thompson Hill (NH) 6/12/2026

Thompson Hill

Location: Hillsboro, New Hampshire
Mileage: 4.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1388 Feet
Trails Used: Wenny Baker Trail, Bushwhack, Road Walk
Views: None. Large cairns and rock walls
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: None

After working the overnight shift on Thursday, I was surprisingly awake, so I decided to go for a quick hike Friday morning. I left work, drove home, grabbed my clothes, and headed straight to the trailhead. I had hiked Thompson Hill once before, back in June 2015. I got ready quickly, as the bugs were already swarming. There was a chance of rain the whole time, but it held off until I finished. Wow, was it ever humid and buggy.

The trailhead parking area for the Wenny-Baker Forest and the trail to Thompson Hill is located off County Road in Hillsborough, with space for just two or three cars.

The Thompson Hill Trail begins gently, but the steep climb soon takes over, and combined with the high humidity, it made for a bit of a challenge today.

The Thompson Hill Trail leveled off around this point, so I slowed my pace to cool down as I hiked toward the summit.

 The area is full of rock walls, and this stretch follows the Thomson Hill Trail.

An intriguing rock cairn appears as you approach the summit of Thompson Hill.

The true summit of Thompson Hill, at 1,780 feet, is reached by a short herd path from near the viewpoint in the summit area. On a clear day, you can enjoy views of Pats Peak Ski Area and even Mount Monadnock.

I didn’t take any more pictures after this point, as the rest of the hike from Murdough Hill to Little Thompson Hill was a loop bushwhack through scrappy woods and steep terrain. With swarms of blackflies and mosquitoes and bad weather rolling in, I decided to bag the two peaks quickly and get back to the car before the rain hit.

Thompson Hill is the highest point in the town of Hillsborough, New Hampshire and is located in the Wenny-Baker Forest.

Moxham Mountain (NY) 5/31/20206

Moxham Mountain

Location: Minerva, New York
Mileage: 5.2 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1080 Feet
Trails Used: Moxham Mountain Trail
Views: 180 from Summit and Several Ledges
Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Lists: Adk-9 Challenge/Adirondack 29er Challenge

On Sunday, before heading back home to New Hampshire, Amy and I stayed in Keene, New York after hiking Silver Lake Mountain, Cobble Lookout, and Panther Mountain the day before. We woke up early for the roughly hour-long drive to the Moxham Mountain trailhead, where parking fits about five to six cars if done correctly. We got ready quickly as the bugs were already swarming and hungry, then signed the kiosk logbook a few feet up the trail—always a smart step, since you never know what might happen on a hike.

The trailhead sign points you in the right direction, though it’s slightly tucked away among the trees at the start of the Moxham Mountain Trail.

Pink Lady Slippers were plentiful along the Moxham Mountain Trail, in numbers unlike anything I’ve seen on a single mountain. I had no idea it’s illegal to pick them in most states, so it’s best to enjoy their beauty by snapping photos and leaving them undisturbed.

                      About a mile into the hike on the Moxham Mountain Trail, the ledge views began to appear.

The Moxham Mountain Trail transitions from rocks and roots to rocky ledges, yet never becomes overly steep on the way to the summit.

                          A view of Gore Mountain, the largest ski area in New York, owned by the state.

A solitary patch of wild columbine rests just below the summit of Moxham Mountain.

The view from the ledges offers a stunning perspective toward the summit of Moxham Mountain.

More views from one of the eleven ledge outcrops just below Moxham Mountain’s summit, looking back down the ridge we climbed.

Cloudy skies surround us as we stand atop Moxham Mountain, at an elevation of 2,461 feet.

Overall, it was a pleasant hike. There was a simple water crossing, a muddy patch, and some bothersome bugs, but we made good time getting back to the car. We passed around ten people and a few dogs heading toward the summit. I brought my bug zapper racket and used it sparingly on the way down—it works, and who cares if anyone stares.