Hunter Mountain
Location: Hunter/Lexington, New York
Mileage: 7.6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1914 Feet
Trails Used: Spruceton Trail
Views: 360 from Inside the Fire Tower Cab
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: Catskill Fire Tower Challenge/Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills)/Catskill 3500 Club
Since we were tackling the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge and had hiked Red Hill and its fire tower the day before, Hunter Mountain was next on our list. I figured this one wouldn’t be too difficult, as the route follows old roads all the way to the summit, with the elevation gain spread out over the roughly 7.5-mile round trip. When we pulled into the parking lot off Spruceton Road, a few cars were already there. We geared up and started up the road.
The Catskill Fire Tower Challenge requires you to climb all eight Catskill fire towers between January 1st, 2026, and December 31st, 2026. Hunter Mountain is #1 on the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge and #1 on the Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondacks and Catskills).
The start of the Spruceton Trail, just off Spruceton Road.
The Spruceton Trail is an old jeep road that leads all the way to the fire tower and the summit of Hunter Mountain. Back in the day, it was used by the fire tower staff when the tower was active.
About a mile and a half from the trailhead, you’ll reach Jones Gap, where the Hunter West Trail, Spruceton Trail, and the herd path leading to Rusk Mountain all meet. You’ll also find a horse hitching post here.
The John Robb Lean-To sits just a few feet off the Spruceton Trail, perched on a ledge. We skipped checking out the views since there were still people sleeping there.
Just before the junction to the John Robb Lean-To, there’s an interesting spring that’s also used by the horse's people ride to the summit of Hunter Mountain.
After passing the spring, this well-kept stretch of the Spruceton Trail leveled out, making for a fairly easy hike to the summit of Hunter Mountain.
The start of the Spruceton Trail, just off Spruceton Road.
The Spruceton Trail is an old jeep road that leads all the way to the fire tower and the summit of Hunter Mountain. Back in the day, it was used by the fire tower staff when the tower was active.
About a mile and a half from the trailhead, you’ll reach Jones Gap, where the Hunter West Trail, Spruceton Trail, and the herd path leading to Rusk Mountain all meet. You’ll also find a horse hitching post here.
The John Robb Lean-To sits just a few feet off the Spruceton Trail, perched on a ledge. We skipped checking out the views since there were still people sleeping there.
Just before the junction to the John Robb Lean-To, there’s an interesting spring that’s also used by the horse's people ride to the summit of Hunter Mountain.
After passing the spring, this well-kept stretch of the Spruceton Trail leveled out, making for a fairly easy hike to the summit of Hunter Mountain.
The junction where the Spruceton Trail meets the Colonel's Chair Trail leads to the Hunter Mountain ski area.
Perched on the grassy summit of Hunter Mountain at 4,034 feet, the fire tower and warden’s cabin offer a striking and scenic landmark.
The Hunter Mountain Fire Tower, standing about 60 feet tall, is the highest fire tower in New York by elevation. It was originally built in 1917 and relocated to its current spot in 1953.
The 360-degree views from the fire tower cab on Hunter Mountain were stunning today, with hardly a cloud in sight.
We hiked down the Spruceton Trail, passing the summit, to a viewpoint near where it meets the Becker Hollow Trail.
I think this is the original site of the fire tower on Hunter Mountain, which was first built out of logs.
We turned around and made our way back down, an easy and uneventful walk along the road and trail. I wish more hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire were this straightforward and relaxed. The footing was never tricky, and the varied terrain kept things interesting without being challenging. Combined with the beautiful spring day, it was a great hike to check this peak off the list.
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