Recently Reopened: Wakely Mountain

View from the Wakely Mountain fire tower

Wakely Mountain in Hamilton County, NY is home to the tallest fire tower in the Adirondacks and one of the tallest in the state, climbing 70 feet above the ground. The tower provides a great view of the surrounding landscape, but until recently, it was not possible to summit the mountain, let alone climb the tower. The tower's structural condition had deteriorated greatly, making the tower prone to collapse. Initially, only the tower was closed, but the entire trail was closed for a couple of years so that hikers would not be injured by a potential collapse. After foundation work to shore up the tower, the mountain reopened just in time for the Summer 2018 hiking season.

The hike up Wakely Mountain is a solid moderate, harder than many fire towers but by no means the hardest. 6.6 miles round-trip with roughly 1,650 feet of ascent. 2/3 of the ascent is in the last mile or so approaching the summit.

Trail register

Looking up trail from trailhead

I started up the trail around 10 AM on a warm July morning. I waited roughly a month after the trail reopened to attempt the hike, but it was quite busy for such a remote peak. Ready to go, I departed along the old fire road serving as the trail. The first ~2.2 miles is little more than a walk through the woods, ascending gently. There isn't much to describe here, so pictures can do the talking.

Wetlands along trail

Other than a couple of stream crossings, there is not much variation in this first part of the hike.

The sign pointing to the "Wakely Mt Observatory" with a distance of 1.0 mile is your sign that things are going to get more interesting (and difficult). At the sign, the trail makes a turn to the right.

Before long, the climb begins.

Toad found along the trail

Near 3,200 feet, the foliage becomes coniferous.

As with many trails in the Adirondacks, erosion is apparent on steeper sections of the trail.

Looking back down

Nearing the summit, wooden railings and ladders help with steep sections.

A helipad is located to the right of the trail just before the summit. We'll check that out later.

That clearing contains the helipad

Eventually, we're faced with the summit clearing.

Observer's cabin

Outhouse

Moose on cabin door

Across the clearing from the cabin is the 70-foot steel monstrosity people come here for.

Yes, it's big. Yes, you need to climb it to get a decent view.

While originally shorter, the tower was expanded in 1916 to its current height. While Snowy Mountain has a higher fire tower (in terms of elevation), Wakely is the tallest in the Adirondacks. Hunter Mountain in the Catskills is also higher (and the only remaining fire tower above 4,000 feet).

The recent rehab work shored up the foundations, but little was done to the tower beyond the first flight of stairs.

Here we go...

The tower originally had a ladder to access the cab, later being retrofitted with stairs. The lowest section of the ladder has been removed, but most of it remains attached to the tower frame.

Imagine climbing 70 feet to the cab on this thing

Climbing above the trees, a panoramic view opens up.

Looooooong way down

I will admit, Wakely Mountain is the one tower with an open cab where I did not actually enter the cab. Why?

That's right, the last few feet to the cab requires climbing a rickety ladder with no fall protection.

OSHA wouldn't approve of this

While I likely would have been just fine, I didn't feel like risking a 70-foot fall to my death in order to get a slightly better view. And that's okay, because the view from the top landing is nothing short of stunning.

Did I really climb that?

Can't spend all day up in the air, so back down it was time to go.

One last view from the way down the tower

Pile of construction debris near the tower

Before I started back down the mountain, I detoured to the summit helipad.

The best view you'll get without climbing the tower

Satisfied, it was time to return to the car. Again, no particular sites of interest on the hike down, so the pictures can do the talking.

Wetlands near trailhead

Parking lot

3-4 hours after I began, I returned to a crowded parking lot. Wakely Mountain might be remote, but it's definitely a hike worth taking. A very pleasant (and not horribly difficult) hike through the woods and panoramic views from the tallest fire tower in the Adirondacks. If I re-hike any fire towers, Wakely will likely be one of the first.

Getting Here

Wakely Mountain is located in a remote section of central Hamilton County, roughly 14 miles southwest of Indian Lake. Unless you have a high-clearance vehicle, you need to come in from the Indian Lake side. A small parking area is located on the north side of Cedar River Road roughly 4.5 miles after the pavement ends.

References

Blue Ridge Wilderness: Official DEC page for the area

The Adirondack Mountain Club's Central Trails guide (Michael N. Kelsey, ed., 4th edition (2014)).