Azure Mountain Hike

This is a very easy hike with plenty of views. It is one big ledge that can hold a lot of people. There is a fire tower at the top for 360 degree view. It is an easy hike up and an easy hike down. This is very popular and there are lots of parking spaces. It can get filled up though. The road to the trail head is very rocky. It is not pavement but a dirt road. All in all, this is a very good hike with amazing views.

Azure Mountain Important Information

Trail Map: Trail Map 1, Trail Map 2
Suggested Phone GPS Apps: Alltrails.com, Avenza Maps, Google Maps

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2 Miles
Elevation Gained: ~743 feet
Portable Toilet At Parking: No

Trail Breakdown
1 Mile Going Up
1 Mile Going Down

Link: http://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/1208520297

Note: The information here is just an approximation.

Parking
44.537808,-74.485788

It is better to go to NY-458 then go south to Blue Mountain Rd than keep going north on Blue Mountain Rd for a very long time since Blue Mountain Rd is very rocky and not really very car friendly.

Start Of The Hike

The autumn wind gently made the tree branches dance, caressing the grass, breezing through my body, cooling it, and it softly lay the falling leaves gently to the ground. The light blue sky paints the horizon with barely any sign of fluffy white clouds as the sun shined down, warming my body and illuminating the trail. It was a day in Adirondacks with a perfect weather, a little too perfect if you ask me. It was in the middle of October, stormy clouds that block out the sun, piercing cold winds, and maybe even snow would have been more normal.

They came falling down like a myriad of colorful rain drops. It was nothing short of breathtaking, and utterly beautiful. Gold, red, brown, rust, yellow and whatever color you can imagine; the leaves waltz in the air as they embrace the earth, glowing through the rays of the sun shining through the cracks of the forest. Before they lay to their grave, they perform an amazing spectacle for a mere moment and I was there to witness it.

Trail Ascent

The ascent was brief and short but there were lots of beginners along the trail. They were huffing and puffing as they moved sluggishly upwards, trying to climb to the top of the mountain. They were already tired and fatigued which was a surprise because the trail wasn’t even that hard to begin with. But we all had the same goals which was to climb to the viewpoint and enjoy the Fall Foliage on this beautiful day in October.

Azure Mountain Fire Tower

The tower rose out of the thickly laid trees of the forest. It stood dignified, standing like a tall giant on the summit. It must have survived thousands of frigid winter days and scorched in another thousand summer days. I stood there watching people climb a skeleton of metal jutting to the sky that was quickly becoming very blue. I stand in awe of the stories it could tell if it was alive. Tales of adventure, friendship and laughter or perhaps lives that were lost, wildfire that blazes through the earth or agony no one should ever feel. Stories of freezing winters, stormy weather or pleasant days such as today. So much to say but no ears that can listen, no soul willing to take the time and history that was never written.

Inside The Fire Tower

The scent of fall infused into the strong gust of winds that pushes impetuously to the tower walls. The tower shook and I grabbed on whatever I can, feeling every beat of my heart as I stood there cautiously waiting for the tower to fall. It didn’t. There was only silence. Peace only came for a moment as the metal walls rattled making a deathly scream as they vibrated with the wind, and even then I could still hear my heart beating faster. My stomach felt uneasy, breathing shallow and deep as if I was hyperventilating, pulse racing, chest tightening, and my skin felt something I can only describe as fear in its most primal form. But the tower stood tall and dignified, as a sense of relief came rushing through my body.

As I ate my lunch and relaxed inside the tower, thoughts about my dream ran through my mind. If I would have died in that tower, who would remember me? Who would cry, and who would feel the loss of my passing away? I knew who they were. My family, friends, and people I became close to. The number of people is very normal. It is not big or huge in any way. It is to be expected, I have not done anything great, I have not used my life to make this world a better place, I have not done anything to give my life lots of value. I want my life to be very valuable that if I pass away, the whole world would feel such a loss. I want 7 billion people to cry because the world lost a person of such great value. It is the type of life I want to lead. It was a simple dream before but now I realize it is bigger than anything I have dreamed of.

The view inside the top of the tower was phenomenal. It was a 360 degree view of the landscape and everyone could enjoy the changing colors of the trees in this time of the year in every angle imaginable. I looked around and saw various people walking to the edge of the mountain, they were all trying to get closer to the valley and enjoy it more.

Azure Mountain Fall Foliage

It was one of those days where it is pure, solemn, lucid and blue that swept across my line of sight. The sky has always amazed me; it is filled with so much wonder but at the same time has so much space devoid of anything. Lakes, shrubberies, trees, hills, and mountains granted my eyes deeply rich shades of green, brown, gold, red, yellow and blue. They sparkled brightly with the afternoon sun like a bed of glittering jewels. Everything that I could see was imprinted with the season of fall and all of the beautiful colors has not yet faded and was there for me to admire. The edge of the cliff was long, more likely 0.3 miles worth of views and I was enjoying every moment of it.

A few hikers came by with their dogs. The dogs were very beautiful and playful. I wish I had a hiking dog to share my adventures with also.

I took one last look at the beautiful valley before heading back. It glowed brighter than ever underneath the beautiful sun. I don’t think I will be able to come back to this place because it was very far to drive to. I will definitely miss the view as such I wanted to stay a little bit more. But all things must come to an end, and this hike must come to an end as well. I said “goodbye” to the valley and proceeded to go down the mountain.

End Of The Hike

The fallen leaves in which the ground was clothed with cushioned my feet as they combine with the trees, green leaves, withered branches and soil to form a thousand pleasant earthen aromas diffused all around me for my senses to enjoy. The noise of cars, wheels, horn and sense of urgency that the city makes could not be found on this trail. Only the symphony of chirping birds, scurrying little animals, and rattle of the leaves passed through my ears.

My stomach growled, my throat dry, as I thought of food along the way. In that moment I knew that driving home could wait, I was a man with a mission. The mission was a good surf and turf. The sweet taste of surf and turf would not be bad at all. The taste of beef in my tongue as the juices leak and the savory mouth plus watering lobster tail would be so good. If I combine these with matcha bubble tea, it would be heavenly.