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.

Houston Brook Falls (ME) **6/14/2026**

 Houston Brook Falls

Location: Bingham, Maine
Mileage: 0.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 120 Feet
Trails Used: Houston Brook Falls Trail
Views: Waterfall
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking Lists: None

After finishing our first hike at Pleasant Pond Mountain, we decided to check out this waterfall. The rain had stopped, the air had warmed up, and it seemed like the perfect time for it. Amy had been here many times before, so it wasn’t new to her. It’s a popular swimming spot, and the waterfall definitely lived up to expectations today. We parked near the transfer station on Ridge Road, where there was space for about 5–6 cars—just be sure not to block the entrance.

The trailhead leading down to Houston Brook Falls is located off Ridge Road, right beside the transfer station.

Houston Brook Falls is a 32-foot waterfall with a refreshing swimming hole. It’s a popular spot, and there were a few people enjoying it when we stopped by.

It was an easy hike to see the waterfall. Amy had been here before since her dad has a cabin nearby, and it’s always a good time visiting a waterfall. One day we’ll have to come back to relax in the water. We ended up heading to the nearby grocery store so Amy’s daughter could pick us up and take us to her dad’s cabin. The rough roads leading to his camp were too much for Amy’s car to handle.

Pleasant Pond Mountain (ME) **6/14/2026**

Pleasant Pond Mountain

Location: Caratunk, Maine
Mileage: 3.5 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1140 Feet
Trails Used: Appalachian Trail
Views: 180+ from Summit and Several Ledges
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: Appalachian Trail

Day two of our Maine mini trip. After we had breakfast at the Sterling Inn, we checked out and headed for our hike for the day before we headed to Amy's dad's camp in Bingham, Maine. Pleasant Pond Mountain was pretty close to where we stayed the night, so it wasn't that long of a drive. Once we got onto North Shore Road, and where the road signs pointed to the parking area, we decided to park and walk as North Shore Road was better suited to higher clearance vehicles. There was a light rain as we headed up the road to the start of this section of the Appalachian Trail.

We walked down North Shore Road to get to the parking area and where we would start our hike on the Appalachian Trail and summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain.

Weathered bog boards line this stretch of the Appalachian Trail, leading the way toward the summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain.

Down low on this section of the Appalachian Trail, there are some nice rock stairs, and right around here is where the elevation gain really started to kick in.

Steeper stretches appear along the Appalachian Trail as it winds its way toward the summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain.

Amy working her way up one of the steeper sections of the Appalachian Trail heading to the summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain

One of the nicer sections of the Appalachian Trail just below the summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain.

One last little steep rocky section before you get to the ledges before the summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain. Prepare for the views.

From just below the summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain, the views stretch north, west, and east toward distant peaks and far-off horizons.

The true summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain stands at an elevation of 2,477 feet.

From the ledges on Pleasant Pond Mountain, the views were stunning. Rain showers drifted through the area, and we even caught a refreshing one on our way to the summit.

The walk back down the Appalachian Trail to the car was peaceful, with the rain staying away and the sun occasionally breaking through the clouds. We didn’t see any other hikers, which made it even better. After that, we planned to check out a nearby waterfall, just a short hike from Amy’s dad’s cabin, as well as some snowmobile and ATV cabins where we’d be spending the night.

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.