ADK Fire Tower Challenge
Adventure. Stewardship. Community. These three words embody the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Fire Tower Challenge. Since 2001, thousands of people have been introduced to the Forest Preserve Parks—the Adirondack and Catskill Parks—through these historic mountain summits. Along the way, they have made friends, been inspired by incredible views, and learned about the importance of protecting public lands for future generations.
To complete the ADK Fire Tower Challenge and receive the official patch:
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Climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of 27 Adirondack Park summits and all 5 Catskill Park summits.
Climbing each tower is not required, nor is it recommended for those towers that need additional restoration measures for safe public use. Each mountain should have a standing fire tower on the date of your ascent.
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Submit proof of stewardship as a part of your completion form. This can include a completed Leave No Trace 101 course, photos from a volunteer project that you attended, and other examples of public land stewardship including projects sponsored by our partner, the New York State Chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association.
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In addition to recording the dates of your climbs on the list provided, we hope you’ll record the details of your hikes: your impressions, companions, weather, wildlife sightings, and whatever else merits your attention.
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Read, sign, and agree to abide by the tenets of the ADK Fire Tower Challenge Pledge.
To complete the winter version of the Fire Tower Challenge and receive the official “rocker” patch, challengers must complete their tower-trail hikes between December 21 and March 21, inclusive.
Be advised that hikers should not climb the towers themselves between these dates.
Fire towers are extremely unsafe in the winter—high winds can pose additional risks and stairs are often covered in ice and snow. Additionally, crampon spikes do irreparable damage to the wooden steps.
Before starting the challenge, ADK strongly encourages all participants to review the Leave No Trace guidance for hiking challenges, which was developed by ADK and Leave No Trace through funding support from the Adirondack Community Recreation Alliance.
Hiker Stories
We ask those who complete the ADK Fire Tower Challenge to share their experiences. Here’s what a few finishers had to say.
Those looking for a guide to fire tower trails should consider picking up a copy of Views from on High: Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills.
This guidebook, first published by ADK in 2001, includes detailed trail descriptions accompanied by maps and numerous photographs.
A second revised edition was published in 2021.
Fire Tower Mt. Updates
As you work on completing the ADK Fire Tower Challenge, you may find that some cabs are closed. Climbing each fire tower is not a requirement of the challenge. For your safety and the safety of those around you, please do not climb to closed cabs.
Goodnow Mountain
The Goodnow Mountain Trail and newly restored Fire Tower are open as of October 8, 2025.
Gore Mountain
Ski season has ended as of April 15. Gore Mountain returns to the ADK Fire Tower Challenge!
Spruce Mountain
The cab on Spruce Mountain is unsafe and temporarily closed.
Black Mountain
The cab on Black Mountain is inaccessible and permanently closed.
Gore Mountain
The cab on Black Mountain is inaccessible and permanently closed.
Loon Lake Mountain
The cab on Black Mountain is inaccessible and permanently closed.
Woodhull Mountain
The cab on Black Mountain is inaccessible and permanently closed.
Stillwater Mountain
Stillwater Mountain hunting season is always the second Tuesday of October through December 20.
Swede Mountain
Swede Mountain hunting season dates have yet to be published.
Spruce Mountain
Spruce Mountain hunting season dates have yet to be published.
The Fire Towers
Adirondack Park Fire Towers
- Azure Mountain
- Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain
- Belfry Mountain
- Black Mountain
- Blue Mountain
- Buck Mountain
- Cathedral Rock
- Goodnow Mountain
- Gore Mountain**
- Hadley Mountain
- Hurricane Mountain
- Kane Mountain
- Loon Lake Mountain
- Lyon Mountain
- Mount Adams
- Mount Arab
- Owls Head Mountain
- Pillsbury Mountain
- Poke-o-Moonshine Mountain
- Snowy Mountain
- Spruce Mountain*
- Stillwater Mountain*
- St. Regis Mountain
- Swede Mountain*
- Vanderwhacker Mountain
- Wakely Mountain
- Woodhull Mountain
Catskill Park Fire Towers
- Balsam Lake Mountain
- Hunter Mountain**
- Overlook Mountain
- Red Hill
- Mount Tremper
*Closed during hunting season.
**Ascents using ski lifts do not count for these mountains.
For those that still prefer a pen and paper, click the button below to download a printable ADK Fire Tower Challenge log.
$15 checks can be made payable to “ADK Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter” and mailed to the following address:
ADK Fire Tower Challenge
Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter Adirondack Mountain Club
P.O. Box 2314
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Questions? Email [email protected] for more information.