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Fire lookout · Essex County, New York

Mount Adams Fire Tower

Essex County, NY lookout on Mount Adams; the present 1917 steel tower stands after a 2010-era volunteer restoration, on private land with current public access unclear.

Visit & stay

Not rentable. As far as we know, this lookout cannot be booked for overnight stays.

Access

Restricted access

Access is seasonal, gated or needs a permit. Check before you go. NYSDEC describes the tower as on private property within the High Peaks Wilderness; the register says the Open Space Institute administers it; ADK says it had been closed to the public as a safety hazard before its restoration. Current public access is not confirmed.

Can you climb it?
Unknown
Road to the top?
Unknown
Trail
hiking trail to the summit; ADK says the last half mile gains 1,000 feet in just a half mile
Staffing
Unknown

Facts

Status
Standing
Type
Cab on a tower1917 Aermotor LS-40 steel tower with a 7-by-7-foot metal cab (register: 47 ft; Wikipedia: 56-ft steel frame); 1922 observer's cabin, the register's only surviving Model 1922 in New York StateThe design: Aermotor LS-40
Built of
Not recorded
Built
1912
Height
47 ft (14.3 m)
Elevation
3,520 ft (1,073 m)
Agency
Open Space Institute of New York
Land
State land
Location
Essex County, New York
Coordinates
44.08702, −74.02565
This entry
VerifiedResearched, then checked independently. Updated 8 Oct 2026.
Firefinder id
us-ny-mount-adams

View from the cab

What you see from the cab: every ridge out to about 93 miles, the named peaks in sight, and other fire lookouts within view, worked out from terrain data in your browser.

Downloads about 3.6 MB of terrain data the first time.

Or see what it could see on the map: the ground in its line of sight.

History

Then and now

  1. 1912 Builtfirst tower on the site was a wooden structure built at the request of the Tahawus ClubSource: nhlr.org
  2. 1917 Replaced by a new structurestate erected the present steel Aermotor LS-40 towerSources: nhlr.org, en.wikipedia.org, adkhighpeaksfoundation.org
  3. 1922 Builtground house and observer's cabin; the register calls the cabin a Model 1922Sources: nhlr.org, en.wikipedia.org
  4. 1922 EventNew observer's cabin built in 1922 under the newly adopted standard 12 by 16 foot cabin plan for observers.Source: nysffla.org
  5. No record between 1922 and 1950
  6. 1950 Alteredimprovements made to the ground houseSource: nhlr.org
  7. No record between 1950 and 2004
  8. 2004 Added to the National Historic Lookout RegisterNational Historic Lookout Register registration date February 12, 2004Source: nhlr.org
  9. 2004 RestoredAn initial restoration of the tower took place in 2004.Source: nysffla.org
  10. 2006 Listed on the National Register of Historic Placesadded to the National Register of Historic Places April 12, 2006Source: en.wikipedia.org
  11. 2007 EventFFLA restoration grant awarded to Friends of Mount Adams for tower paint, roof panels, windows, a firefinder map reproduction, and repairs to the 1922-type observer cabin.Sources: firelookout.org, firelookout.org
  12. 2007 RestoredFriends of Mt Adams began restoration work on the observer's cabin in September 2007Source: nhlr.org
  13. 2008 EventWind blew the roof off the tower in 2008.Source: nysffla.org
  14. 2008 RestoredBy 2008 the Mount Adams tower had been painted and given new wooden steps by DEC, while the 1922-type observer cabin got new footings and drainage in an ongoing restoration.Source: firelookout.org
  15. 2010 ClosedADK Highpeaks Foundation says that by 2010 the tower had fallen into disrepair and was closed to the public as a safety hazardSource: adkhighpeaksfoundation.org
  16. 2010 RestoredADK Highpeaks Foundation was approached in 2010 about restoring the tower; it describes about three years of volunteer restoration workSource: adkhighpeaksfoundation.org
  17. 2011 Eventspring 2011 flooding destroyed the steel cable bridge over the Hudson River, forcing volunteers to ford the riverSource: adkhighpeaksfoundation.org
  18. 2011 RestoredA new wind-resistant roof, built off site, was helicoptered in with DEC support and installed in summer 2011 under the ADK High Peaks Foundation project; footing repairs followed.Source: nysffla.org
  19. 2013 RestoredThe ADK High Peaks Foundation's restoration of the tower (roof, footings, windows, maps, paint) was completed in 2013.Source: nysffla.org
  20. 2017 ClosedDEC advised the public to avoid the tower after ice and wind damaged its top landing, pending repairs planned for later in 2017 (reported March 2017).Source: nysffla.org
  21. 2017 RestoredA volunteer from the Mount Adams crew replaced and repaired the tower's safety netting on May 13, 2017.Source: nysffla.org
  22. 2024 AlteredADK High Peaks Foundation and nine volunteers mounted a new graffiti-resistant interpretive history sign on the tower's first landing on May 11.Sources: nysffla.org, nysffla.org
  23. TodayStandingIt still stands, as far as our sources know.

Old maps of this spot

USGS topographic maps from the years a lookout stood may show it, often as a small symbol labelled “Lookout”. See the old topo maps around it on the Firefinder map, or find every scanned sheet of this spot on USGS TopoView (click the spot there to list them, with dates and downloads).

Story

Researched 8 Oct 2026, fact-checked.

The National Historic Lookout Register says the first tower on Mount Adams was made of wood and went up in 1912 at the Tahawus Club's request.1 In 1917 the state erected the present steel tower, which the register describes as a 47-foot Aermotor LS-40 with a 7-by-7-foot metal cab.1 Wikipedia gives the steel frame a height of 56 feet, so the sources disagree on height, and I could not settle which figure is right.1,2

Wikipedia says the Aermotor Corporation built the tower to guard the Adirondack Park against forest fires.2 The observer's cabin dates to 1922.2 The register says the ground house went up in 1922 and was improved in 1950.1 It also calls the cabin the only surviving Model 1922 in New York State.1

The state staffed the tower until the mid 1970s, according to the register.1 The register lists the lookout as registered on February 12, 2004, and Wikipedia says the National Register of Historic Places added the station on April 12, 2006.1,2 The register also says the tower has sparked a public debate about whether lookouts belong in wilderness areas.1

By the time the ADK Highpeaks Foundation was asked to help restore it in 2010, the tower had been closed to the public as a safety hazard.3 Volunteers replaced stairs, railings, fencing, and a footer, and they built a new cab roof.3 A 2011 flood destroyed the steel cable bridge over the Hudson River, so volunteers had to ford the river with their gear.3 Friends of Mt Adams had already started restoring the observer's cabin in September 2007.1

The Department of Environmental Conservation describes the tower as sitting on private property within the High Peaks Wilderness, and calls it restored, with views of the High Peaks.4 The Open Space Institute administers the site.1 The Forest Fire Lookout Association lists the tower as standing.5 Volunteers still help keep up the trail and tower each year.3 ADK says the last half mile climbs 1,000 feet, so expect a steep final approach.3

I could not confirm whether the tower is open to visitors now. Check with the Open Space Institute before you go, and do not climb a tower that is closed.1

  1. Mount Adams Fire Tower, National Historic Lookout Register, http://nhlr.org/lookouts/us/ny/mount-adams-fire-tower/ (accessed 2026-10-08). ↩
  2. Mount Adams Fire Observation Station, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Adams_Fire_Observation_Station (accessed 2026-10-08). ↩
  3. Mt Adams Fire Tower, ADK Highpeaks Foundation, https://adkhighpeaksfoundation.org/mt-adams/ (accessed 2026-10-08). ↩
  4. Fire Towers, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hiking/fire-towers (accessed 2026-10-08). ↩
  5. New York Lookouts, Forest Fire Lookout Association, https://firelookout.org/lookouts/us/ny/ (accessed 2026-10-08). ↩

Photos

Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower
Photo: National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower, 2008
(2008)Photo: Randy Kneer, via National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower, 2008
(2008)Photo: Randy Kneer, via National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower, 2008
(2008)Photo: Randy Kneer, via National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower, 2008
(2008)Photo: Randy Kneer, via National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower
Photo: National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower
Photo: National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Mount Adams cabin c. 1964 & Len Abare Sr. by Len Abare Jr.
Mount Adams cabin c. 1964 & Len Abare Sr. by Len Abare Jr (1964)Photo: National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
1917-Steel tower being built
1917-Steel tower being built (1917)Photo: NYS-DEC, via National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
1917-Steel tower being built
1917-Steel tower being built (1917)Photo: NYS-DEC, via National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower, 1964
(1964)Photo: Larry Paul, via National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source
Photo of Mount Adams Fire Tower, 1977
(1977)Photo: Bob Eckler, via National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved · source

Photos keep their own rights and are shown with credit. Is one of these yours? You can ask for a different credit or for removal.

Sources

  1. National Historic Lookout Register (NHLR) Gave us: name, location, county, elevation, register numbers, agency, dates, photos, links National Historic Lookout Register (nhlr.org) · All rights reserved (American Resources, Inc.); facts extracted only, no prose copied. · retrieved 4 Oct 2026
  2. Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA) - US lookout lists Gave us: type, status, register numbers, links Forest Fire Lookout Association (firelookout.org) · No licence stated; facts extracted only, no prose copied. · retrieved 8 Oct 2026
  3. Map and Coordinates List for NYS DEC Firetowers (Andy Arthur) Gave us: ownership, links Andy Arthur, andyarthur.org (CC BY 3.0) · CC BY 3.0, credit: Andy Arthur, andyarthur.org. Facts + short description text reused under that licence. · retrieved 4 Oct 2026
  4. FOREST LOOKOUTS -- eastern US (easternuslookouts.weebly.com) Gave us: height, links easternuslookouts.weebly.com · No licence stated; facts only (county, coordinates where the page's own map widget gives them, status, height, design hints, register links). The site's own historical quotes, newspaper citations and narrative are not reproduced. · retrieved 8 Oct 2026
  5. Forest Fire Lookout Association, New York State Chapter Gave us: dates, links Forest Fire Lookout Association, New York State Chapter (nysffla.org) · No licence stated; facts only (dates, names, the kind of work done). Every note is our own wording and every event links to the chapter newsletter it comes from. Positions are copied from the NHLR and FFLA records (the chapter publishes none). · retrieved 8 Oct 2026
  6. Forest Fire Lookout Association chapter reports Gave us: dates, links Forest Fire Lookout Association, chapter and restoration-grant reports (firelookout.org) · No licence stated; facts only (dates, names, the kind of work done). Every note is our own wording and every event links to the FFLA report it comes from. Positions are copied from the NHLR, FFLOS and FFLA records. · retrieved 8 Oct 2026
  7. OpenStreetMap -- fire lookout structures Gave us: links © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL 1.0. (c) OpenStreetMap contributors. · retrieved 4 Oct 2026
  8. Firefinder research Gave us: summary, design, status, agency, access, visiting details, dates, links, fact-check Firefinder research (sources cited in the story footnotes) · Our own research notes; each fact cites its source in the lookout's story

More about this lookout elsewhere

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