Off on Adventure: Mount Adams Fire Tower Restoration - Upper Works

If you haven't been to the Mount Adams Fire Tower in the High Peaks Wilderness Area of the Adirondack Park, you are missing out. This Fire Tower provides one of the best views of the Adirondack High Peaks and surrounding mountains.

It is not an easy climb. The first mile is a piece of cake, but the last mile and a half or so is steep and rugged. It is worth the climb if you can handle it. There is no view from the base of the Fire Tower, so you have to be willing to climb at least halfway up the tower. You are then rewarded with spectacular views.

An added bonus, is the completion of the the tower restoration. Take a look at the amazing new roof on the cab. It is a work of precision. On the day of this climb, a new reproduction of the original map was placed in the map table in the cab. This map identifies all the surrounding peaks and makes it easy to tell which one you are looking at.

The restoration took nearly 4 years to complete and over a dozen trips were made by the ADK High Peaks Foundation to do the work. The Foundation did a fabulous job on this project. I'm sure you will agree if you get the chance to see the tower.

The old boardwalk on Lake Jimmy... now bypassed

Below are some of the views from the tower. The hike is only about 5 miles round trip, but plan at least 4 hours for the hike and your time on the summit. Bring a lunch and admire the views and the tower, but be sure to wear shoes with good traction. The trail, in addition to being steep, is often wet and the exposed rock surfaces of the trail can be slick.