Belfry Mountain
Location: Moriah, New York
Mileage: 0.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 144 Feet
Trails Used: Road Walk
Views: From Ledges at Base of Fire Tower, 360 from Fire Tower Cab
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking Lists: Moriah Hiking Challenge/Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills)
This was our second visit, but my first time climbing the fire tower. We stopped here right after hiking Crowfoot Pond since it was on our route back to Vermont and then home. With the weather so nice, it felt like the perfect opportunity. It’s probably one of the easiest, if not the easiest, hikes to a fire tower in New York. When we pulled into the parking area off Dalton Hill Road, only one other car was there. No packs were needed, so we set off on the short, less-than-half-mile road walk to the tower.
The Moriah Hiking Challenge features four local Champlain Area Trails (CATS) hikes, and completing them earns you a patch. The other three hikes include Belfry Mountain, with its fire tower; Big Hollow/Coot Hill, offering views of Lake Champlain; and Cheney Mountain, which has stunning views of the High Peaks and Lake Champlain.
Begin the hike to the fire tower on Belfry Mountain by walking around the gate, then follow the road all the way to the summit and the tower.
The walk up the road to the fire tower at the summit of Belfry Mountain was easy and uncomplicated, with plenty of thistles lining the way.
The fire tower on Belfry Mountain is a 47-foot-tall structure built in 1917 and decommissioned in 1988. The original tower was made of wood.
The 360-degree views from the fire tower cab at the summit of Belfry Mountain.
Looking down from the fire tower cab at the high point of Belfry Mountain, 1,867 feet above sea level.
I found all three benchmarks at the summit of Belfry Mountain.
The second time was the charm. We strolled leisurely down the road back to the car, enjoying the stunning views from the fire tower overlooking Lake Champlain into Vermont and the nearby High Peaks of the Adirondacks. For anyone seeking an easy hike with a rewarding payoff, this one fits the bill.
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