Azure Mountain (Fire Tower)

Dec 24

August 14, 2020 | near Santa Clara, NY

The background: I had this fire tower hike on my radar, but it was always a little bit too far for me to make the drive during my short trips to Lake Placid. It was during my week-long summer vacation in Lake Placid that I made the time to hike here, adding on St. Regis Mountain afterwards. I was looking forward to this day, as I had never explored this area of the park.

Getting there: From Lake Placid, head west on route 86 towards Saranac Lake. When you arrive at Paul Smiths, head north on route 30 for about 9 miles, then take a left onto 458W. After about 13 miles, you will turn left onto Blue Mountain Road. The trailhead will be on your right in about 7 miles. There is a designated lot and ample space to park. Sedan drivers – beware that this road is a little bit rough – you should be fine in 3-season weather; take your time. See the ‘important note’ below for more details on this.

This trail is in the northwestern part of the park, exuding a different feel than the High Peaks and other regions. It feels a bit more remote which was a nice change of pace from the vibe of Lake Placid in August. You will also have to watch out for moose – I did not see any this trip (sadly) but remained vigilant after seeing the many road signs warning drivers to be cautious when driving.

Important note: I could be wrong, but I will throw it out there based on what I read and experienced from my trip: The map on Google or your phone may recommend you drive up Blue Mountain Road and approach the trailhead from the south, instead of heading north on route 30/458 to Santa Clara and then approaching from the north. For sedan drivers, I’ve heard the road is very rough and long, and I’m not sure if it is plowed or maintained in winter from the southern approach. The thought of the rough road made me nervous, even though it was summer and there wasn’t any snow or ice to worry about. Anyways, this was the reason I chose to drive back to the Paul Smiths area the longer way instead of continuing through Blue Mountain Road. (I hope that makes sense or if it doesn’t, you will understand what I mean when you see the map!)

The route: Azure Mountain is a 1.8 mile out and back hike with a standing fire tower and view at the summit. But don’t be fooled by the short mileage; the last half mile or so is steep!

I arrived at the parking lot around 7:20 AM with a Dunkin’ breakfast sandwich in tow that I planned to eat at the summit. I had been nervous about the road to the trailhead after a few reviews I read, but my Jetta ended up making it just fine as I took my sweet time driving. It was a beautiful summer day and I was in no rush.

I hit the trail at 7:30 as another group was heading to their cars. After a nice, mostly flat walk on the trail, I encountered the remnants of what must have been an observer cabin years back (photo below.) After stopping for a moment to look around here, I carried on to the switchbacks which then brought me to the steep incline. I was prepared for this, as I read the reviews ahead of time, so I knew it would come. I did what anyone would do- I took a few deep breaths and pushed forward. It’s nothing to worry about, as it is entirely manageable and not impossible; just be prepared with sturdy footwear! The trail is marked and easy to follow, and before you know it, the tower will suddenly come into sight. You can climb up the tower and take in the scenic views from the cabin. It felt glorious to be able to soak in the morning sunshine, feeling like I was miles and miles away from civilization. I was hungry by this point, so decided to enjoy breakfast at the viewing area, which is a few feet from the tower itself. After devouring breakfast and cultivating good energy for the rest of the day ahead, I started my descent, in which a runner startled me as he was running up the mountain (#inspo.) Another person passed me as I neared the trailhead, and I got in the car ready to take Blue Mountain Road back the way I came from. It was now time to make my way to the St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower trail in nearby Paul Smiths, my second trail planned for this beautiful summer Friday.

Concluding notes: This is a beautiful, short, but steep, rewarding hike. I can imagine it gets crowded during peak times, but I tend to go very early or much later in the day, so did not experience crowds (St. Regis afterwards, on the other hand, would be a different story.) I can also imagine this is just the right mileage for a quick sunrise or sunset hike. I do recommend you pair it with one of the hikes below to make the most of your day in this region, if you have more time and energy to explore!

My recommendation for an ideal day and what you can pair this hike with: