Climb Beebe Hill Fire Tower
Austerlitz / Columbia County, New York
Activity
Hiking / Fire Tower
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
2 mi round trip
Elevation gain
~485 ft
Duration
~1.5 hrs
Route
Out & back / fire tower summit
The adventure
Climb a compact Columbia County hill, pass old stone walls and forest, and finish at a public fire tower that lifts the view above the trees toward the Berkshires and Catskills.
What you'll do
Start at Fog Hill Road parking area in Beebe Hill State Forest, then follow the route about 2 miles round trip. Beebe Hill fire tower
Expect roughly 485 ft of climbing along the way.
What you're looking at
- Commons image verifies northeast view from the tower into the surrounding hill country
The story of the place
Current tower has been relocated during its long service history before reaching Beebe Hill
Once you're there
Park in the official unpaved Fog Hill Road lot. Follow the marked state-forest route toward Beebe Hill, crossing the small stream bridges and continuing uphill through the woods.
Near the summit, pass the lean-to spur and stay with the route to the fire tower. If the tower is posted open, climb carefully to the viewing level.
Return to Fog Hill Road on the same established route.
Don't miss
Just off the summit route, find the public lean-to tucked into the woods. It is an easy little side discovery that most people staring upward at the tower can walk right past.
Good to know
- Open
- state forest open year-round
- Tower
- public tower; check posted maintenance/closure status at visit
- Winter
- snow and ice can change footing
- Navigation
- multiple-use trail intersections make staying on the marked tower route important
- Dogs
- unknown.
- SHORT SUMMIT outing
- The classic tower hike is about two miles round trip with roughly 485 feet of total ascent.
- THE TOWER IS THE PAYOFF
- The 60-foot fire tower is open to the public when conditions and maintenance status allow.
- BONUS SHELTER
- A public lean-to sits just off the summit route near the top of Beebe Hill.
- BIGGER THAN THIS ONE HIKE
- Beebe Hill and adjoining Harvey Mountain State Forest contain about 30 miles of multiple-use trails.
- ABOVE-THE-TREES VIEW
- The tower view reaches across Columbia County toward Massachusetts and the surrounding mountain country.
- Safety
- wind and exposed stairs. snow and ice can change footing. multiple-use trail intersections make staying on the marked tower route important.
- Managed by
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Please respect the place
- Use designated state-forest parking
- Follow the marked fire-tower route
- Obey any posted tower closure
- Follow New York State Forest regulations
- Carry out all waste
Photos
More adventures nearby
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site visitor · Kinderhook, New York
Walk the Lindenwald Wayside LoopHiking · Easy · ~12 mi away
Upper Falls · South Berkshires, Massachusetts
Descend to Massachusetts' Biggest WaterfallHiking · Difficult / short steep rocky trail · ~16 mi away
Olana State Historic Site visitor parking system · Hudson, New York
Cross the Hudson River SkywalkHiking · Moderate · ~21 mi away