CATSKILL MOUNTAINS — The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge encourages experienced 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), Upper Esopus Fire Tower at the Catskills Visitor Center, and the newest towers added in 2026, Mount Utsayantha (Stamford), and Bramley Mountain (Delhi).

The rules to participate are simple: 

Visit all eight Catskill Fire Towers between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.

Fill out the log of completed hikes along with one favorite photo via SurveyMonkey or by downloading and emailing the 2026 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge (PDF) to catskillschallenge@dec.ny.gov.

This can also be submitted via mail to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-1020. Entries must be postmarked by January 5, 2027.

All finishers will receive a commemorative patch and be entered into the grand prize drawing*. The first 1,000 finishers will also receive a one-year subscription to DEC’s Conservationist magazine AND a gift subscription for a second person of their choice. Finishers who have completed the challenge in multiple years will receive an additional commemorative Catskills Fire Tower Challenge prize!

To receive a bonus prize entry, submit a photo showing yourself practicing Leave No Trace™ while participating in the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge (e.g., picking up litter, carrying out, planning and preparing for their hikes, staying on trail).