The Fire Tower Hikes Worth the Climb

Scattered across Vermont's summits stand a handful of old fire lookout towers, relics of an era when spotters watched for smoke from these high perches. Restored and reopened to hikers, they now offer one of the best rewards in the state: a full 360-degree view, high above the trees.

The appeal is the panorama. Many Vermont summits are wooded, their views blocked by the very forest that makes the state beautiful. Climbing the last few flights of a fire tower lifts a hiker clear of the canopy, opening a sweeping vista of ridgelines rolling away in every direction — the kind of unobstructed sightline that a tree-covered peak can never provide.

The hikes themselves range from gentle to demanding, but the towers give even modest summits a grand payoff. Preserved by volunteers and historical groups, they double as monuments to Vermont's conservation past. Standing on the small platform at the top, wind whistling through the steel, a hiker can trace the whole geography of the region at a glance. It is a lot of view for the price of a climb, and well worth the slightly nervous final ascent.