Hikers in New York will have two new fire towers to seek out in 2026 as part of the popular Catskills Fire Tower Challenge.
The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge encourages hikers to visit several of the region’s remaining fire towers located on Balsam Lake Mountain (Hardenburgh), Hunter Mountain (Hunter), Overlook Mountain (Woodstock), Red Hill Mountain (Denning), and Tremper Mountain (Shandaken), and Upper Esopus Fire Tower at the Catskills Visitor Center.
For 2026, two new towers in Delaware County have been added to that list: Mount Utsayantha (Stamford) and Bramley Mountain (Delhi).
Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower—built in 1934 and restored in 2005—is located just outside of the Catskill Forest Preserve. Bought in 2015 for $1, the fire tower is owned and maintained by the village of Stamford. In 1900, the tower boasted views as far away as the Berkshires. Visitors to this tower have the option of hiking or driving a one-mile seasonal gravel road to the summit.
Bramley Mountain Fire Tower was recently reconstructed atop Bramley Mountain. Open since May 2025, the tower offers sweeping views of the Catskills. The four-mile trail leading to the tower was built by the Catskill Mountain Club in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Launched in 2019, the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge has drawn participants from every region of New York, as well as 11 other states and Canadian Provinces.
To complete the challenge, participants must visit all eight fire towers in the Catskills region between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. Once completed, participants submit a log of their completed hikes along with a favorite photo to CatskillsChallenge@dec.ny.gov, or via mail. Entries must be postmarked by January 5, 2027.
All participants who complete the challenge will receive a letter and a commemorative Catskills Fire Tower Challenge patch designed with the 2026 completion year. Full details about the challenge and prizes can be found at the 2026 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge page.
