Balsam Lake Mountain
Location- Hardenburgh, NY
Trail- Dry Brook Ridge Trail
Balsam Lake Mountain is located in the Catskills in the town of Hardenburgh, New York. The mountain is considered a high peak for the region and its elevation is about 3,723 feet. On the summit sits a fire tower that was used up until the late 1980s. Like Panther Mountain (where I spotted the Hairy Woodpecker) and Slide Mountain, Balsam Lake Mountain is part of the 3500 challenge that must be completed to join the Catskill 3500 Club.
The Trail:
Balsam Lake Mountain Via Dry Brook from Mill Brook Road Trailhead:
(Hiked on March 30th, 2023)
Trail Length- 6 miles
Duration- 2.2 hours
Beginning at the parking lot at Mill Brook Road, you cross the street to enter the forest onto the Dry Brook Ridge Trail (Blue Marker). Dry Brook Ridge Trail has a steady incline for about the first mile and half. It then tapers for about a half mile. The Dry Brook Ridge Trail is almost a straight path until you meet the junction of Balsam Lake Mountain Trail blazed with red markers.
Turn right onto the Balsam Lake Mountain trail. You come to a metal gate which is meant to deter vehicle traffic such as snowmobiles. Following the red trail, it becomes increasingly steeper for about ¾ of a mile. As you approach the summit the forest changes from the mixed hardwood to a more coniferous canopy. The ranger house lies to the right within a few yards of an open area which consists of a picnic table and the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower.
Balsam Lake Mountain Via Dry Brook from Beaverkill Road:
(Hiked on May 20th, 2022)
Trail Length- 4.4 miles
Duration- 1.4 hours
The road to the parking lot is a bit bumpy and there are some large ruts that may ruin a low sitting car, best to drive up in a truck or other large clearance vehicle. The parking lot was crowded on the day I hiked. This hike is a lollipop shape on the opposite end of the Dry Brook Ridge Trail.
The Dry Brook Ridge Trail (Blue Trail) begins with a slight slope that slowly increases up to the first mile where there is a junction. The elevation gain for the first mile is about 400 feet. At the junction you can choose to continue straight on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail or go left onto the Balsam Lake Mountain trail (Red Trail), which is a steeper section going this way. I chose to follow the Dry Brook Ridge Trail.
After the first junction, the Dry Brook Ridge Trail goes for about another mile with an ever-increasing elevation. At the 2 mile or so mark you come to the same junction, but on the opposite side, as you would if you started on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail from the Mill Brook Road trailhead. Take a left up the Balsam Lake Mountain trail (Red Trail).
From the Summit:
Parking at the BeaverKill Road Trailhead offers two choices to return, either back pedal down to the Dry Brook Ridge Trail or from the clearing at the summit and across from the picnic table, use the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail (Red Trail). This section lulls down for about .4 miles. Then there is a very steep section, you’ll lose about 700 feet in elevation within another half mile (or if you took this route up you would have gained about 700 feet for a half mile), until you came to the junction of the Balsam Lake Mountain (Red) Trail and Dry Brook Ridge (Blue) Trail. Follow the Dry Brook Ridge Trail back down to the parking lot and drive slowly to avoid those ruts!
The Tale:
Balsam Lake Mountain and Forest:
Balsam Lake Mountain was formed between 250 to 350 million years ago. The mountain is comprised of shale and sandstone. The forest at the summit is made mostly of Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) trees. At lower elevations the forest consists of deciduous type trees. The Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest which incorporates the summit is over 13,500 acres and managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower:
Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower was established in 1887 by the Balsam Lake Club and was originally made of wood (NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation). A steel fire tower was constructed in 1919 and in 1930 the current tower was erected (NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation).
From the staircase of this tower, you can see for miles in all directions. The views over the firs gives an awesome sight of the mountain range, in the winter it can be blustery and in the summer the wind can be a welcome respite from the heat. In the Balsam Lake Fire Tower, the sound from the wind drowns out all thoughts and amplifies the heavenly ambiance of the surrounding forest.
Fire Tower Challenge:
Besides being part of the required peaks of the Catskill 3500 Club Challenge, Balsam Lake Mountain is also part of the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge. The challenge consists of 6 fire towers, which are: Balsam Lake Mountain, Overlook Mountain, Hunter Mountain Red Hill Mountain, Tremper Mountain, and Upper Esopus.
