Livingston Manor, New York. There are accessible picnic tables, accessible parking, an informational kiosk, and a seasonal accessible port-a-john. Camping is outstanding with 5 lean-tos and numerous designated campsites. Please read the DEC info carefully. (Updated 2/18). 100% Recommend – 23 Responses. Given that Balsam Lake Mountain is one of the Catskill 3500 high peaks, and that this hike ascends 1,200+ feet over six roundtrip miles, the trek is about as easy as you could hope for, though the term “easy” is extremely relative here. More than 22 miles of trails traverse the area, including a portion of the 575-mile Finger Lakes Trail(leaves DEC website). Balsam Mountain Preserve is a private, gated, mountain, golf and equestrian community in the western North Carolina Mountains, just 40 minutes to the west of Asheville. It lies mainly within the western Ulster County town of Hardenburgh, with small appendages in the towns of Middletown and Andes in Delaware County. Home Microspikes or crampons, and snowshoes needed. These trails are cross-country ski trails in the winter. Mill Brook Ridge Trail (5.9 miles, 2173′-foot elevation gain to Balsam Lake Mountain, yellow markers) Alder Lake Parking. Terrain It also connects with the Mill Brook Ridge Trail just south of the summit. Balsam Lake Mountain Forest. It is about .10-mile north of one of the designated campsites. Read more here! The old Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail route ended at a parking area at the swing in the road. It is the closest trailhead to the Balsam Lake Mountain Lean-to. According to the NYSDEC Bull Heads may be present. The DEC website states: “Balsam Lake Mountain fire tower is the first forest fire tower in New York State and was erected in 1887. Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest is home to one of the Catskills five restored fire towers, on aptly named Balsam Lake Mountain. The Catskill 3500 club, which oversees the list, also makes aspiring hikers climb four again in the winter, and Balsam is one of the four. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The Balsam Lake Mountain Trail is an odd connector trail that connects with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail north and south of the summit. Remember: winter forecasts are volatile and should be watched closely. Be sure you are following the blue blazes. The maximum depth of the pond is 10′. Difficulty: Easy : Catskill Highest: #17 : Summit Elevation: 3,754' USGS Official Names: The Mill Brook Ridge Trail is a beautiful trail connecting Alder Lake and Balsam Lake Mountain just south of its summit. ... Pisgah Forest Mountain Meadows Pisgah Forest Mountain Meadows. Directions from Ulster County, NY: The Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest lies primarily in Ulster County encompassing the town of Hardenburgh and stretching to the towns of Middletown and Andes which lie in Delaware County. Campfires are permitted below 3,500 feet in elevation, but only dead and down fuel may be used. In the Balsam Lake Wild Forest, it has 2 designated campsites. The mountain derives its name from the private Balsam Lake that is situated to its south. The first steel tower was assembled in 1919, and the current tower (47 feet tall) was put up in 1930. “The policy of the state shall be to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural lands for the production of food and other agricultural products.” — Article 14, Section 4, NY State Constitution. You can access a designated campsite close to the eastern parking area. Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest 0 0.5 1 2 Kilometers 0 0.5 1 2 Miles) Parking Hiking X-Country Skiing Lean To B icy l ng H a nd L u ch Fi reTow Pr im tv eCa ps Balsam Lake Mtn. There are 5 lean-tos in this wild forest: At large primitive camping is allowed throughout wild forest lands at least 150 feet from any trail, road, spring, stream, pond, lake, or other water source. Balsam Lake Mountain and Graham Mountain [PRIVATE PROPERTY] is a 9.3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Livingston Manor, New York that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The Short Loop (1.9 miles, ascent 290′, yellow markers). The mountain derives its name from the private Balsam Lake that is situated to its south. If peak-bagging the Catskill 67, and if inclined, one could bushwhack from the lean-to area and climb Mill Brook Ridge (3460′) and Woodpecker Ridge (3460′). The Balsam Lake Lodge has 5 bedrooms, 16 beds, 3 bathrooms, and a kitchen. What to Think About Before Using a Lean-To or Back-Country Shelter, Why Trail Guides Should Make You Question Everything, 5 Winter Hiking Tips for Your First Time Out & So You’ll Want to go Back, Sunrise – Sunset Times Catskill Mountains, Catskill Mountain Guide by Appalachian Mountain Club Books, Catskill Day Hikes for All Seasons by Carol and David White, Views from on High: Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills, AMC High Peaks Trail Guide Map Pack by Adirondack Mtn Club, Catskill Region Waterfall Guide by Black Dome Press, Good Fishing in the Catskills: A Complete Angler’s Guide (Third Edition), Catskill Lean-tos and Primitive Campsites, Places to Camp on the Catskill’s Escarpment Trail, Best Hikes: Devil’s Path Backpacking Traverse, Best Hikes: Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Woodland Valley Loop, Best Hikes: The Catskill’s Escarpment Trail from Colgate Lake, Into The Neversink: An off-trail adventure in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains, Towns of Andes and Middletown, Delaware County; Town of Hardenburgh, Ulster County. (Also, never tell your … Get complete property information, maps, street view, schools, walk score and more. Need an updated map? When you have taken pictures of the tower and from the tower head back the way you came on the red Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. Snow in the Catskills and Adirondacks high peaks over the next week. Balsam Lake Mountain (south of Balsam Lake summit on the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail), Beaver Meadow Lean-to (1.4-miles on the Mill Brook Ridge Trail from Alder Lake), Kelly Hollow Lean-to (1.45-miles from the west trailhead on the Beaver Pond Loop), Dry Brook Ridge Lean-to (1.4-miles on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail north of Mill Brook Ridge Road). Balsam Lake Mountain stands as the guardian of western high peaks of the Catskills. Maps, It comprises a steel frame fire lookout tower, the observer's cabin and privy and the jeep road to the complex. The Alder Lake Loop trail is an easy walk around a 45-acre lake. Food and gas can be found in the towns of Arkville and Margaretville, both are the north along Route 28. The last mile to Balsam Lake you’ll climb about 525′ to reach the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail just south of the summit. pks631. Full winter clothing also. After the hike you will use the car at Alder Lake to retrieve the car at Balsam Lake Mountain. Blue Background Icon I nd ica tesA b lE m Nice sized Lake Trout have been reported, especially by fly fishermen. Alder Lake – Located in the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest, Alder Lake is a calm, peaceful body of water offering everything from hiking and fishing, to camping and of course, paddling. Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest Map - PDF (3.15 MB), Elevated Avalanche Conditions in the Adirondacks, Albany Pine Bush 20-mile Hiking Challenge, Hunter-West Kill Wilderness and Rusk Mountain Wild Forest, Trail Registers for Beginners – Anatomy and why to use them, The Complete Beginner’s Guide to the 10 Essentials. Its exact height has not been determined, but the highest contour line on topographic maps, 3,720 feet (1,130 m), is usually given as its elevation. It lies mainly within the western Ulster County town of Hardenburgh, with small appendages in the towns of Middletown and Andes in Delaware County. Photos, You’ll climb about 275′ from the start to the crossover path. Before you leave, completely extinguish the fire. For our purposes, the split of north and south is the summit of Balsam Lake Mountain and the trail is almost split evenly. Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail (6.6-miles total, 3.1 miles in the Balsam Lake Wild Forest, yellow marked) Balsam Lake Parking Area. the cabins and wilderness campground remain open. The pond gets its name from Chief Tunis, probably of the Lenni-Lenape Indians, who as legend has it buried a cache of bullets at the lake and would not reveal the location and subsequently was executed. Videos. Alder Lake Loop (1.68 mile, about 200′ elevation gain/loss, red markers) Alder Lake Parking. Check here for more info. -Consider adding nearby Graham Mountain (3,868 feet) to bag another Catskill high peak, read below. Request additional information, schedule a showing, save to your property organizer. Currently deep and drifting snow. One of many beautiful mountain hikes in the Catskills. The area is at the head of the Beaverkill Valley … Ice is present everywhere. The fire tower a top Balsam Lake Mountain has the highest 360° view in the western portion of the Catskill Forest Preserve. The Dry Brook Ridge Trail crosses the Dry Brook Wild Forest in the north and enters the Balsam Lake Wild Forest as it heads south. It was replaced with another wooden tower in 1905. Doubletop and Graham Mountains have been permanently closed to hiking by the landowners. The lake can be fished and boated by non-gas-motorized craft. General information on hikingincludes how-to and safety tips and links to rules & regulations. Losing about 65′ elevation on the 0.27-mile path you’ll make a minor climb and meet up with the loop trail that you take left back to the start. What’s better, this area sees less traffic than other areas in the Catskills. Alder Lake – Millbrook RangeBalsam Lake Mountain TrailBig PondMongaup Hardenburg TrailTouch Me Not Trail From Big Pond To Alder Lake. Balsam Lake. Read more here. Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest is at the head of the Beaverkill Valley, an area famous as the cradle of fly fishing in America. New York State Division of Tourism, One Commerce Plaza , Albany, NY, 12245, Phone: 518-474-4116. Quaker Clearing location: The original Quaker Clearing location was about 1-mile south of the current Balsam Lake Trailhead where RT 54 (Beaver Kill Road) swings north. Charts, Best Time to Hike: Anytime. Call the local land manager to check if the trailhead is open if you plan to hike after a major storm. The Catskill 3500 Club has updated its required climb list to 33 peaks. One can access the 3.5 acre Tunis Pond, one of the only ponded water in the area. The lake makes a good point for bushwhacking Cradle Rock Ridge (3160′), another Catskill 67. OVERVIEW FOR BALSAM LAKE MOUNTAIN : Distance: 5.80 miles round trip from the DEC Parking Lot on Mill Brook Road. Trailhead parking areas may not be plowed for a few days after a major snow event. 100% Recommend – 89 Responses. This first wooden tower was built by the Balsam Lake Club, and it endured until 1901 until it burned. From its north junction of the Dry Brook Ridge Trail, it is 0.75-miles to the summit making it almost 3 miles from Mill Brook Road. Balsam Lake Lodge in Nantahala, North Carolina | Rise and shine in the lap of luxury! VISTA360 at CreekStone SITE-1 CreekStone in Candler, NC. The Short Loop crosses over on a connector section at about 0.8-miles from the start. Other notable peaks are Millbrook Ridge, Woodpecker Ridge, and Cradle Rock Ridge. It is about 1.75-miles from Balsam Lake Mountain trailhead. Some of the trails in the Balsam Lake Wild Forest cross into the Big Indian Wilderness, the Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest, and the Delaware Wild Forest. The Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail penetrates the Balsam Lake Wild Forest from the southeast exiting the Big Indian Wilderness and ends at Quaker Clearing. 1 Thank marty344 . An accessible trail leads to a covered boat dock and fishing area. A … In an established campsite, use the existing fire ring. Interactive Maps, Questions? Balsam Lake Mountain Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Balsam Lake Mountain is: A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Thu morningTemperatures will be below freezing (max -2°C on Thu night, min -14°C on Sat night)Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Thu morning, near gales from the NW by Sat afternoon). Sunrise/Sunset about 6:55 AM - 5:30 PM Get more specific times here. Ask marty344 about Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest. 34 8. –Do not confuse Balsam Lake with Balsam Mountain or Balsam Cap. In the Balsam Lake Wild Forest, it is most commonly hiked as an approach to Balsam Lake Mountain or Graham Mountain from Mill Brook Road. From its south junction with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail, it is about 0.85-miles to the summit with an 845′ climb. The trail head starts from the upper parking lot at the far end. How Much Water Should You Drink on a Hike and Why? This blog is © Copyright 1997-2021 Andy Arthur.org, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Balsam Lake Mountain Trail (1.48 miles, 430′ from the north and 845′ from the south, red markers) Junctions with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail and Mill Brook Ridge Trail. Elevations range from a low of 1,740 feet along Mill Brook to a high of 3,723 feet at the summit of Balsam Lake Mountain. Continue on the trail for about … It is located in the town of Hardenburgh, NY in the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest. Camping is prohibited above 3,500 feet in elevation from March 22 until December 20 each year to protect the fragile summit environment. With an extensive trail network to several ponds, this wild forest is ideal for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, backpacking, canoeing and cross-country skiing. Notes, As of Feb. 12, the Adirondak Loj is closed until further notice due to a COVID19 case. This lovely mountain lake is the setting of a lodge, picnic area, trails, and lake or stream fishing. The route to BLM is less strenuous then many in the Catskills and if you visit on a weekend between Memorial Day and Columbus Day the cabin and the … It has a relatively remote location, but was the site of the first wooden fire tower in New York state erected by the Balsam Lake Club in 1887. Sundown Wild Forest: The trail marker color has been changed from blue to red along the Vernooy Falls trail from the Upper Cherrytown Trailhead through Greenville. Kelly Hollow Loops (all descriptions will be from the west parking area) West Parking | East Parking. Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest is home to one of the Catskills five restored fire towers, on aptly named Balsam Lake Mountain. If you’re lucky as we were on one visit you may see Bald Eagles flying in the area from the tower. The Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest is located 8 miles south of Margaretville (NY 28) and 18 miles north of Livingston Manor (NY 17). One can take either route and descend to the other junction and loop back on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail which runs east below and bypassing the Balsam Lake Mountain summit. Beautiful vistas!! Please note changes in access and rules for hiking and camping in the Adirondacks and Catskills during the COVID-19 outbreak. Balsam Lake Mountain was home to the first forest fire tower in New York State and was erected in 1887. Aerial Photos, The trail provides access to the Mill Brook Ridge Trail. Hike Balsam Lake Mountain and see the oldest fire tower in the Catskills at the summit. The Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest is located 8 miles south of Margaretville (Route 28) and 18 miles north of Livingston Manor (Route 17). If not skiing, please use snowshoes if hiking when snow is on the ground as not to cause post-holing. The lake can be fished and boated by non-gas-motorized craft. Alder Lake Loop Trail(1.5 miles, re… There’s ample room behind the … News Articles, This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Treat ALL water. The turnpike from the Neversink was the original route for the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail until sometime after 1985 it was relocated to end at the Balsam Lake Mountain trailhead. Located in the southwest corner of the Catskill Park, Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest contains more than 13,500 acres of "forever wild" Forest Preserve. Thematic Maps and Many hikers pursue a goal to reach the summit of all of them, so they have to pay Balsam a visit. The Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Observation Station is located at the summit of the mountain of that name in the Town of Hardenburgh, New York, United States. It is an outstanding trail for backpackers. designation - balsam lake mountain fire twr pid - na2071 state/county- ny/ulster country - us usgs quad - seager (1981) station description described by coast and geodetic survey 1940 (rjs) a new york conservation department fire tower located on the top of balsam lake mountain, about 23 meters south of triangulation station balsam. This time pass by the Millbrook Ridge Trail and continue down the mountain. Please act responsibly during this stressful period. In a 1993 DEC publication, it mentions a woods road near the pond. Read more. Here we go again paddling across the lake. The use of camp stoves is encouraged. The Beaver Pond Loop is a beautiful loop that takes you the pretty Kelly Hollow lean-to near a small beaver pond and meadow. Balsam Lake Mountain (Hardenburgh, NY) The first forest fire tower in the state was built on Balsam Lake Mountain in 1887. © Copyright - www.ChallengedHiking.com and LifeWay Initiatives LLC - All Rights Reserved |, By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. J!!(!0!G! The area contains 13,500 acres and has 22-miles of foot trails, some of which lead to bodies of water for excellent fish. This tough 7.8 mile section of the Finger Lakes Trail within the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest of the Catskill Forest Preserve may be the most popular section of the FLT in the Catskills. Park / Campground Usage (day use, camping, etc.) It’s 13.7 miles takes you over two summits, Pakatakan and Dry Brook Ridge, and several other unnamed bumps that could be considered peaks in their own right. Bring the adventure of the back-country in the Catskills & Adirondacks of NY to Your Desktop. Email me [email protected]. On the northern end of the Escarpment Trail, hikers should find the Elm Ridge lean-to. Touch Me Not Trail From Big Pond To Alder Lake, John Burroughs Memorial State Historic Site, South Hill State Forest (Delaware/Otsego), Article 14, Section 4, NY State Constitution. Mountain Shadow Lake and Farm Mountain Shadow Lake & Farm. !A 9/2017 Q! Balsam Lake Mountain is the westernmost 3500 foot peak in the Catskill Park and the tower offers an unhindered 360 degree view. Alder Lake provides opportunities for picnicking. Time: Average 3.25 hours round trip : Elevation Gain: 1,147’ feet from the DEC Parking Lot and the summit. Opening and Closing; Balsam Lake : May 14, 2021 to October 31, 2021 From there you will lose and gain elevation. The wooden tower was replaced with a steel one that was operated from 1919-1988. Another common approach on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail to Balsam Lake Mountain is from the south at Balsam Lake Mountain Trailhead (today aka Quaker Clearing) where the Dry Brook Ridge Trail is 0.9-miles from the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. You will park one car at Alder Lake and drive the other to the Balsam Lake Mountain parking area. Today hikers commonly, although mistakenly, refer to the Balsam Lake Trailhead as Quaker Clearing. All facilities are accessible to people with disabilities. A camping permit is required for groups of ten or more people. A permit is also required to camp at the same site for more than three consecutive nights. From Alder Lake, you’ll climb and pass camping and a lean-to at 1.35-miles and to Mill Brook Ridge (3460′), a Catskill 67 peak, at 2.7 miles. High quality Lake Cottage gifts and merchandise. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest, Livingston Manor: Address, Phone Number, Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest Reviews: 4.5/5
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