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Red Hill Fire Tower LbNA #62293

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jun 24, 2012
Location: Red Hill Fire Tower
City:Claryville
County:Ulster
State:New York
Boxes:1
Planted by:Spottycat
Found by: DreadPiratesBeckett
Last found:Apr 12, 2020
Status:FFFF
Last edited:Jun 24, 2012
Reaching this box requires a roughly 1.4 mile hike. It's not hard for a hike but not a stroll either. The stamp was carved on-site at the cabin on Red Hill. There is an ACEO size card inside the journal for the first finder.

The Red Hill Fire Tower sits at an elevation of 2,990' in Sundown Wild Forest in the Catskill Forest Preserve. It was built in 1920 and operated as a fire observation tower until 1990. It was restored and reopened in 2000 thanks to the efforts of volunteers. The tower is an 60 foot Aermotor steel tower with fantastic views of the surrounding Catskills and Shawangunk Ridge. The cabin was built on the mountain's high point in 1931 and is currently a museum dedicated to the history of the site. On weekends in the summer volunteer guides will be on duty to greet visitors with the cabin and tower cab open.

Directions:
From NY-17 Exit 100, Liberty (I-86) Take route 55 East to Grahamsville. After passing the Tri-Valley school turn left onto 55A. There is a bald eagle observation spot along the way. Continue straight when 55A takes a right turn. Turn left onto Sugarloaf Road just after a bridge and before the baseball field. Stay on Sugarloaf Road until you reach Red Hill Road on the left. Make a left, then an immediate right turn on the unpaved Dinch Road/Coons Road. Follow the road past many cabins and driveways until you see the brown DEC sign for the trailhead on the left.

From Rt. 209 (Kingston/Wurtsboro) Turn onto Rt. 55 at Napanoch near Peters Market. Turn right onto 55A just before the red bridge. When 55A reaches a stop sign and left turn, turn right. Turn left onto Sugarloaf Road just after a small bridge and before the baseball field. Stay on Sugarloaf Road until you reach Red Hill Road on the left. Make a left, then an immediate right on the unpaved Coons Road/Dinch Road. Follow the road past many driveways and cabins until you see the brown DEC sign for the trailhead on the left.

From Rt. 28 (Phoenicia) Turn onto Rt. 28A at Boiceville. Make a right turn onto CR-42/Watson Hollow Road toward Sundown/Grahamsville. Follow the road through the narrow valley lined with waterfalls. Bear right at Sundown. The road becomes Sundown Road/CR-153. Turn right on Sugarloaf Road just after the baseball field and before a small bridge. Stay on Sugarloaf Road until you reach Red Hill Road on the left. Make a left, then an immediate right on the unpaved Dinch Road/Coons Road. Follow the road past many cabins and driveways until you see the brown DEC sign for the trailhead on the left.

Please sign in on the trail register. There may be booklets inside for the self-guiding nature trail on the way up. The trail is 1.4 mi. with 850' of elevation gain. The trail may be muddy is places but is not difficult. There is a very pleasant spring along the way. The cabin and tower should be open with a guide present on weekends in the summer. Even if the cab at the top is not open it is possible to climb the tower and see the wonderful 360° views.

Clue:
Look in the hollow at the base of the maple tree just beyond the fire tower. Please be discreet with other visitors and replace the box and the rock in front of it carefully.

This box was formerly hidden in a different location on the summit.