The Red Hill Fire Tower is located within the 29,200 acre
Sundown Wild Forest and was constructed in 1921. The fire tower is sixty feet tall and has nine
flights of stairs. 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 was
blazed to the tower.
The trail to the tower (1.2 miles long) is now marked all
the way to Coons 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 Coons Road. The tower was
successfully reopened on July 15, 2000.
Directions to the
Trailhead on Dinch Road
(Yellow-blazed Red Hill Tower Trail)
From NY 17 - Take exit #105 in Monticello. Follow NY 42 North to Grahamsville. Make a left onto
NY 55 West. In
Curry, turn right (north) onto Sullivan County Route 19 towards Claryville.
Proceed through Claryville, and make a right onto Red Hill Road. Follow
until you reach an intersection with Coons Road (formerly Dinch Road). Make
the sharp left onto Coons Road and follow to the trailhead, which will be on
the right.
From NY 28 - Proceed to hamlet of Big Indian, located west
of Shandaken and east of Pine Hill. Turn south on Ulster County Route 47 (Oliverea
Road). Go approximately 21 miles, passing by the Frost Valley YMCA, until
you reach a three-way intersection. Make a left towards Claryville on
Sullivan County Route 19 and make a right onto Red Hill Road. Follow until
you reach an intersection with Coons Road (formerly Dinch Road). Make the
sharp left onto Coons Road and follow to the trailhead, which will be on the
left. Parking area will be on the right, and the trailhead is across the
road.
NOTE
- Coons Road is a dirt road.
