Wakely Mountain Fire Observation Station
Wakely Mountain Fire Observation Station is a steel fire lookout tower in Hamilton County built in 1916, standing over 70 feet tall on a mountain about 3,750 feet high. The tower features a cabin at the top with windows for viewing and a metal staircase inside, surrounded by thick forest with wide views extending across lakes, hills, and vast forest stretches.
A wooden fire tower was built on the mountain in 1911, replaced by the steel structure in 1916, making it one of the first ten steel fire lookouts in the Adirondacks. The station represents early 20th century forest protection methods, when watchers kept long shifts scanning for smoke across the wilderness.
The fire tower stands as a symbol of humanity's relationship with the surrounding wilderness and the land's protection. Visitors today experience a place where early forest stewardship is still visible through the preserved structure and the quiet care of the local community.
The marked trail covers almost 10 kilometers round trip, beginning on a gentle old road for about 2 kilometers before becoming steeper toward the summit. Winter weather can close the access road, making the approach significantly longer, so plan your visit during warmer months when roads are clear and weather is stable.
The tower was retrofitted in 1930 with an inside metal staircase for safety, replacing an exterior ladder. Today the Department of Environmental Conservation has restored it with new footings and a roof, while modern solar panels and radio repeaters inside keep it connected for communication and monitoring purposes.
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