| Sundown Wild Forest · Town of Denning · Elevation 2,990' |
History | Restoration Update | Contact Information | Fire Tower Pictures
Trail Map / Trail Profile | Directions to Trailhead
The Red Hill Fire Tower is located within the 29,200-acre Sundown Wild Forest. The tower, which is sixty feet tall and has nine flights of stairs, was constructed in 1921. The tower is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register, and has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. This tower affords an unsurpassed view of the Catskill high peaks to the west and north, and the Rondout Reservoir is visible to the southeast. It continues to provide a panoramic view of the largest area of productive forest land (outside the Catskill Forest Preserve) in the region. It was the last fire tower staffed in the Catskills. Because the old jeep road that was used to access the summit can no longer be used, a new trail had to be blazed.
The trail to the tower (1.2 miles long) is now marked all the way to Dinch Road with yellow blazes. The DEC and restoration committee successfully completed the last piece of the puzzle by providing a small trail head parking lot on state land alongside Dinch Road. The tower was successfully reopened on July 15, 2000. Volunteers are needed to help staff the tower in summer. Please contact The Catskill Center at (845) 586-2611 or write to: cccd@catskillcenter.org if you might be interested.
For more information on the Red Hill Fire tower, or how you can help, contact chairperson Helen Elias at (845) 985-7274. Donations or inquiries may be mailed to:
Red Hill Fire Tower Committee
PO Box 24
Grahamsville, NY 12740
Donations should be made out to "CCCD/Red Hill Fire Tower and mailed to:
The Catskill Center, Route 28, Arkville, NY 12406.