The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge it just got bigger with the addition of two fire towers located on Bramley Mountain and Mount Utsayantha, both in Delaware County.
“The Catskill Mountain Club is thrilled to have two more fire towers included in the challenge,” said Peter Manning, the club’s executive director. “These towers illustrate that there is much more to explore and enjoy in the region. These opportunities also reflect the dedicated partnerships that support the tourism and recreation economy.”
Launched in 2019, the challenge featured six – now eight – fire towers, attracting visitors from all over the state as well as 11 other states and Canadian provinces.
The Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower, built in 1934, is located just outside the Catskill Forest Preserve. On a clear day, it boasts views as far as the Berkshires. The tower was restored in 2005. The Village of Stamford purchased it in 2015 for $1.
Visitors to the Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower have the option of hiking or driving a one-mile seasonal gravel road to the summit.
After many years of hard work by volunteers and community members, the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower was rebuilt and opened atop Bramley Mountain in May 2025. It offers stunning views of the Catskills.
Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower provides educational and historical information at the tower on weekends and holidays in the summer months.
“We know that joining this challenge will bring even more tourists to our corner of the Catskills, which will benefit the local economy,” said Ann Roberti, board member of Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower. “We look forward to welcoming them.”
For nearly a century, watchers have watched over vast areas of NY, including the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserves, from more than 100 fire towers perched on the state’s highest peaks.
This Catskills Fire Tower Challenge highlights the park’s remaining public fire towers, including:
- Balsam Lake Mountain (Hardenburgh)
- Hunter Mountain (Hunter)
- Overlook Mountain (Woodstock)
- Red Hill Mountain (Denning)
- Tremper Mountain (Shandaken)
- Upper Esopus Fire Tower (Catskills Visitor Center – Mt. Tremper)
- The fire tower of Mt. Utsayantha (Stamford)
- Bramley Mountain Fire Tower (Delhi)
To complete the challenge, participants must visit all eight fire towers in the Catskills region between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026. For full details, visit 2026 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge page.
More than 500 people completed the Catskills Fire Tower in 2025, earning a letter, a handy fix, and a year’s subscription to DEC’s. Conservationist magazine.
Climbers will receive a bonus prize for submitting a photo of themselves exercising Leave no trace principles in fulfilling the challenge. This could mean picking up trash, taking out what you’ve been carrying, planning a safe hike, staying on the trail, and so on.
For more information about the Catskills and fire towers, visit the site Catskills Visitor Center on Route 28 in the heart of Catskill Park. The resort is spread over 60 acres of woodland, fields and wetlands and is open during the winter season Friday to Monday from 9.30am to 4pm
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