Hunter Mountain is a very good hike that has a very beautiful fire tower at the top. Be sure to come here during the weekends when the fire tower top is open to the public otherwise, you will end up at the stairs to look at the view. The trails were very well maintained and there were some mosquitoes but not a lot to ruin the hike. There are lots of people who just wants to see the fire tower so they do this hike in reversed and also not in a loop. The trail is much easier and less miles if people would do that.
Hunter Mountain Important Information
Trail Map: Trail Map 1, Trail Map 2
Suggested Phone GPS Apps: Alltrails.com, Avenza Maps, Google Maps
Difficulty: Moderate To Strenuous
Distance: 8 Miles
Elevation Gained: 2,200 ft
Portable Toilet At Parking: None
Trail Breakdown
Blue Trail
Bridge / Waterfall
Red Trail
Lean-to Then Yellow Trail
Fire Tower
Blue Trail To Parking Lot
https://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/3577264093
Note: The information is just an approximation.
Parking
Start Of The Hike
This will either be a good hike or a terrible one. There was no in between. I didn’t do any research before I arrived at this place and really just heard this hike from a random stranger. All I knew was that there was a fire tower at the top and that was it. No idea what the trails will be like, the elevation gain nor how long the hike will lasts. All I have was my phone with its GPS and so I was sincerely hoping that I would enjoy this hike.
Blue Trail
It was a road that was very wide that cars could have used it. The road was surrounded by tall trees that were very much flourishing underneath the hot sun. The trail markers were bountiful and could be clearly seen, a good sign that this trail was popular and well maintained. I took a leisure walk, not too fast and not too slow. Just enough to keep moving without using a lot of my energies.
Blue Trail
The wide road came to an abrupt stop and at the end, a yellow gate could be seen. The gate looked old, rusty and falling apart but it was still good enough to fulfill its role which was to block small vehicles like ATVs or snowmobiles from getting through.
Blue Trail
I stepped deeper into the forest with the sun’s rays fading away as they were being blocked by the multitude of leaves hovering above me. I could hear the sound of a gushing river flowing as I got deeper and deeper into the forest. The sound of happy birds chirping could be heard in my surrounding as I was walking by, a clear sign that I was in the wilderness, miles away from civilization.
Blue Trail
The forest seemed to smile as if it was welcoming me to explore deeper. The flowing river at my right and the shade that the forest has given me, kept my body cool and comfortable. The hike was pleasant rather than a grueling battle with the weather and its partner, the mountain. I took my time a little bit, just admiring and exploring the scenery before moving on deeper into the forest.
Intersection
Red And Blue Intersection
Bridge
A bridge could be found at the intersection. If you go straight, you will end up in Buck Ridge Lookout or West Kill Mountain.
River
I stayed at the bridge for a little while, just looking at the waterfall and rock formation that happened naturally. Some people walked to the top of the waterfall and explored the area but I do not have such confidence. I recommend that people never go near the top of the waterfalls as many people have died and injured themselves in doing so.
Waterfall
The waterfall was interesting but if I had to describe it, it was not that lackluster. The water was just trickling downward since there wasn’t much water flowing to begin with. This is often common during Summer as the heat of the sun dries up the forest and surrounding area. Waterfalls tend to be much better during May when the snow tends to melt and water would be gushing out in force due to the pressure.
Red Trail
The gentle ascent was great on the legs until it became steeper and steeper as time went on. The flat terrain was over and it was time to put in some work and effort so I strapped my hiking backpack on my body, took out my hiking sticks and proceeded to move upwards. The footpath was filled with boulders and other small rocks which made the footpath very easy to traverse but they were most likely placed there by people to combat soil erosion.
Red Trail
A big tall tree stood in the middle as I was ascending the trail with its roots protruding from the ground. It was sturdy and strong with a few herbs, weeds and small plants living underneath its shadow. A good landmark to know my location and that I was going the right way.
Red Trail
Darkness sets in as if I was diving deep into the belly of the beast as the sun light could not penetrate through the dense leaves of the forest. The trees were tightly together on this part of the trail as I travel through the narrow footpath. The trail was ascending and according to the map, there was a vista somewhere around here but I didn’t find any.
Red Trail
After a few miles, I reached flat ground which was a good sign that I can take it easy and replenish my energy. I wiped the sweat off my eyebrow and enjoyed the gentle breeze coming in. It was a welcomed change of pace and a welcomed change of terrain as my body could definitely use a well deserved break.
Lean-To
A very well constructed Lean-to
Yellow Trail
Near the lean-to was the red and yellow intersection
Yellow Trail
After a few gentle ascents, the yellow trail became very flat with these shadowy and gloomy trees hanging at the sides of it. The trees were closely packed together and impossible to go in between them as they were littered with pointy branches that were devoid of any leaves. I knew I was close to the fire tower as the trail became very flat, a good sign that I was near the top of the mountain.
Intersection
Yellow and blue intersection
Blocked View
A viewpoint near the fire tower but it was blocked by a lot of trees.
Hunter Mountain Fire Tower
After a turn, I could see a gigantic hunk of metal standing proud and pointing towards the sky. It was the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower and it was huge. The tower rose like a mighty giant upon the grassy terrain. Its height transcended above all other structures in the vicinity, it was as if it was reaching for the clouds and could almost grasp them.
Hunter Mountain Fire Tower
After inspecting the surrounding area, there was no one to be found. Not a soul in sight. I couldn’t blame people for not staying. The hot sun poured its heavy rays all over the empty space with barely any shade that could be used to escape the heat. The cabin made out of wood was locked and closed tight and no one seemed to be at home. The picnic table was empty and as soul less as everything that surrounded me.
Fire Tower Views
I climbed the tower, touching its skeleton that was made out of metal. It was cold to the touch and not hot at all even though it was underneath the sun for some time. The tower seemed strong and sturdy that not even the mighty winds that kept blowing could move it. I went up the narrow stair case, getting higher and higher as time passed by.
Fire Tower Locked
The top of the fire tower was locked. I heard they open this during the weekends and lock it during the weekdays.
Fire Tower Views
The mountains stretched far and wide as far as my eyes could see. A heavy fog faded some of them from my sight but they were still beautiful to see. I sat at the stairs of the fire tower just admiring the green trees, the cabin made of wood, the hills and the clouds hovering and passing by. They were all beautiful in my eyes and such beauty shot straight to my soul, filling my body with a sense of peace and tranquility. In that moment, nothing could go wrong as everything was perfect, everything had meaning, and all was well.
Blue Trail
Small rocks and pebbles blanketed the descending footpath making it easy for me to hike downwards. There were no obstacles like big boulders or fallen logs along the way and the terrain seemed safe and very wide so I let gravity take a hold of my body and let myself hike downwards without stopping. I always loved footpaths like these where I don’t need to resist and could just relax and let momentum take me down to the very bottom.
Blue Trail
I turned into a corner and stopped myself as a black figure in the middle of the trail startled me. It was a bear and a big one as well. It was black, walking on all fours and sniffing around. Perhaps someone dropped a sandwich or food and the bear smelled it but no matter what it was, we both looked at each other surprised. Before I could even move a step, it ran into the forest and I never saw it again. I knew Catskills had lots of bears but never in the world would I imagined that I would get close to one by accident.
Blue Trail
I took a short rest as the descent to the bottom seemed never ending while the accumulating pressure that happened to my knees was starting to bother me as well. I took out a protein bar from my backpack and started eating it while being wary for bears and other animals in the area. The bear before scared the crap out of me and it was not something that I wanted to experience ever again.
Lean-to
A sign pointed to a lean-to. I took a little detour to look at it but didn’t bother going in too deep. The lean-to was being obstructed by trees but it looked good and well maintained.
Intersection
Intersection
B;ue Trail
The sun’s rays were slowly waning away and I could feel the darkness creeping up to me. But I knew I was close to the parking lot and the as the trail became very flat, I also knew that I would make it before dusk. I took my time and walked a little bit slower as my legs were already tired. The downward descent took more energy than I had anticipated but still I was glad that the slopes and descents were already over.
Blue Trail
The blue trail was very pleasant as there were no more elevation or slopes that I needed to conquer. It was as if I was walking in the park in my neighborhood and not deep inside a forest. I saw a few hikers heading to the opposite direction as me, and perhaps I did this wrong. Perhaps I should have went to the opposite direction at the start of the hike as well.
End Of The Hike
There were parked cars on the left side and there were plenty of them but this was not where I parked. I need to walk a few more distances to my car. Perhaps I did start at the wrong side but it was too late now. The journey was over and all that was left was to think about going back home or eating food at a restaurant. It was a good hike with amazing views and amazing trails. I may visit this again someday, perhaps during the weekends so that the top of the fire tower would be open.
For more hikes similar to this one, you can go to my Best Hikes In Catskill, New York page.