Region
Highlights
- Overlook Mt. has one of the Adirondack/Catskill Fire Towers. It was built in 1927 on Gallis Hill, moved to its present location in 1950, closed for safety reasons in 1988, and reopened after renovation in 1999.
- The hotel ruins near the summit are from one of the Mountain Houses popular in the Catskills in the 1800s. Byrdcliffe Colony, a utopian settlement with a focus on arts, occupies the southern slope.
- Timber rattlesnakes are quite common on Overlook Mt. trail and summit.
Routes
86 climbs • 4.6 mi • 1,446 ft gain • 2 hr 33 min
11 climbs • 4.7 mi • 1,352 ft gain • 2 hr 19 min
2 climbs • 5.3 mi • 1,414 ft gain • 2 hr 14 min
Latest climbs
"Did WHP from Peck road to close out 3-season round #47 and get total # of ascents to 70.
Ate my lunch on my way over to the Woodstock area to climb up to the tower on Overlook mountain. Fortunately the regular lot was only half full so there was plenty of parking spots to choose from and no need to drop down to the overflow lot. Didn’t climb the tower but did take in the view out over the Hudson River before a speedy descent.
To kill more time I headed to the Catskill Information Center to take the easy stroll over to the Upper Esopus fire tower. Four out of six towers done for the ‘25 DEC fire tower challenge,just need Tremper and Hunter." — Nimblefoot • May 30, 2025
"Easy hiking day visiting some fire towers and a single peak for my grid. Very warm day(70’s) so I was glad I wore shorts.
After tagging Roundtop from Gillespie road I headed down to Phoenicia to climb Tremper, my #4 out of 6 for the ‘24 DEC Fire Tower Challenge. A quick stop in Phoenicia to pickup some fluids then out to the Catskill Visitor Center for an easy stroll to the Upper Esopus fire tower,#5 of 6.
Continued on to Woodstock to drive up to the Meads TH for the final climb of the day, Overlook.
On my descent I ran into two friends who had driven down from ADK Loj in Lake Placid after Mondays eclipse viewing. We finalized a hike for the next day which is unfortunately forecasted to be cooler and a bit wet with showers(ugh).
Overlook completed my fire tower challenge now it’s time to report to the DEC and get my patch." — Nimblefoot • Apr 9, 2024
"A hike from the north to bushwack up Plattekill and then over to Overlook. Found a random ledge view on the southern side of Plattekill that had a great view of Elk Lake. Overlook was a beautiful mountain between the fire tower and the ledge view. Saw no rattlesnakes. First hike of the day!!!" — newenglandwarrior • Sep 21, 2023
"Brother Dean and I left the trailhead at 8:45 on a gorgeous cool, blue sky morning. Followed the old road to the summit. Spent a brief time exploring the old hotel ruins. Then on to the summit. The tower cabin was locked but the 360 degree view was one of the best I've seen! The rangers cabin was locked but appeared to be in great shape. The view from the trail behind the cabin was awesome! Returned to the car at 11:44. A short hike that's big on rewards!" — garyogden • Aug 31, 2023
"Out and back of Roundtop and KHP from end of Gillespie road followed by a scoot up to the tower on Overlook. The usual PA on Meads road, across from the Monastery, was totally full so I headed on to drop down to the new larger lot adding 1.4 miles to the hike. Overlook was one hot hike in the afternoon. " — Nimblefoot • Apr 14, 2023
"Doing West kill for the month of March of the 5th grid. Then down to the Catskill Visitor center to see what’s new and pickup a few brochures before visiting the Esopus Fire Tower for the 2023 Fire Tower Challenge. Finally up to Overlook for fire tower #4 of 6 of the FT challenge.
Because of my late start, 9:30 am, I missed helping breaking out the DP to West Kill which was nicely done by the folks just ahead of me. To add some fun I detoured off the trail near the spring to bushwhack down to the end of Spruceton road as a shortcut. The dense cement-like snow made the plunge a bit challenging.
On Overlook the usual parking on Meads road was full so I dropped down to the new, lot which is much larger, then headed up from there and adding 0.7 miles each way. The remainder of the Overlook Spur trail was a combination of boot-packed track and mine field of deep gopher holes which slowed forward progress considerably." — Nimblefoot • Mar 18, 2023
"Rained on the way up. A steady gradual climb on a gravel road.
Ruins were spectacular.
Very windy in the FT and pelted with snow as we came down. View of the Hudson Valley from the cliffs beautiful. " — Fitgrandma • Apr 27, 2022
"Getting Friday and Balsam Cap for the month of February. Ran into two friends, Yong Ae and George, on my way up Friday. George had already done BC so was heading out then I caught up with Yong Ae again on BC. As always she offered me half her sandwich, smoked salmon/avocado/jalapeño peppers on a bagel, and her warm tea. Dull Hillsounds were just barely enough on the ice at upper elevations otherwise mostly bare ground or patches of old ice. Had time to do a quick ascent of Overlook afterwards and get home at a decent time prior to the big storm. Plenty of ice on the trail but was able to dodge most of it so the Hillsounds stayed in the pack." — Nimblefoot • Feb 24, 2022
"We hiked this mountain on a cool day in October with temps in the mid to upper 30's at the start. The trail was somewhat crowded for a Friday in October. The trail itself consisted of an old unpaved road that led to the former Overlook House Hotel. There was no "up & down" on the trail....just up and at a moderate grade. The hotel was reached at about the 1.7-mile mark and we spent some time exploring and photographing the remains. The trail became less steep after leaving the hotel and we reached the tower at about the 2.3-mile mark by our GPS. The tower cab was closed, but we ascended to the uppermost landing which provided excellent views. The Observer's Cabin was in great condition, and the privy was the best we ever saw with hanging pictures, flowers, toilet seat and hand sanitizer! We also went over to the "scenic outlook" where there was a spectacular view!" — TJandMS • Oct 19, 2021
"Left a car at the Woodstock Overlook lot, then drive a second car up to the Platte Clove trailhead, to do the traverse hike. 9.39 miles & 1497 feet of elevation gain. The Platte Clove trail is gorgeous, lots of streams & waterfallls, tons of cool mushrooms, & great views overlooking the old quarry. By the time we reached the fire tower, it was cloudy & no view, but the clouds definitely added to the atmosphere by the old hotel ruins!" — EmilyDoucet729 • Sep 14, 2021
Awards
Challenges
About peakery awards
Log climbs on peakery to earn awards:
Peak Badges: Earn a special badge for each unique peak you summit. See all of your badges on your Badges page.
First Ascent Award: Only 1 available per peak. Goes to the first peakery member to log a successful summit of a peak. Snag this award and the peak will forever bear your name.
King of the Mountain Award: Only 1 available per peak. Summit a peak more times than any other member. Beware: this award can be lost!
Summit Steward: Summit a peak at least 5 times to become one of its Summit Stewards. As Steward of a peak, you’re encouraged to keep that peak’s info up-to-date on peakery and spread goodwill on your future climbs up the peak.