Adirondack Firetower Day Hike: Poke-O-Moonshine
What up Road Trip Warriors!? We have another mountain down and it was a blast! Poke-O-Moonshine is part of the fire-tower challenge. The hike is a good distance, in the five to seven mile range, offering beautiful vistas from the summit. See below for everything you need to know for hiking Poke-O-Moonshine in the Adirondacks!
Trailhead
The trailhead for Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain is located near Lewis, NY. Head North on I-87 and get off exit 32. After taking the exit, turn left onto Stowersville Road toward US-9, Lewis. After 1.7 miles, turn right onto US-9. Stay on US-9 for 8.3 miles and the Poke-O-Moonshine parking lot for the trailhead will be on your left. There is a large wooden sign that is hard to miss.
Summary of Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain
- Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
- Length: Observer’s Trail which is roughly 5 miles
- Elevation: 2,180′
- Hiking Time: This hike could take you anywhere between a couple hours to five hours depending on how often you stop for breaks, pictures, etc.
- Elevation Gain: Roughly 1,450′ according to PureAdirondacks.
- Photo Opportunities: There are photo opportunities along the hike up the mountain as well as on the summit. There is a large pond that can be stopped at for photos as well as a lean-to. The summit of Poke-O-Moonshine provides commanding views of the Lake Champlain Valley. The firetower is worth the climb up providing even better views of the area.
Beginning the Hike
The Observer’s Trail up Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain is well-maintained and follows blue trail markers. The trail is at a gentle incline at worst and never feels too strenuous, especially in the early section of the hike. You will cross a stream and make your way through the Adirondack pines.
Beaver Pond, Lean-To, and Fire Observer’s Cabin
On your way to the summit, you will pass a large pond with a beaver dam in it. It is a serene spot, good for photographs. While taking photos here, we were pelted by melting snow from the pine trees above.
About 2.1 miles into the hike, you will reach a nice lean-to with a stone fire pit in front of it. It is a nice place to stop and take a break. Right near this lean-to is the chimney to the old Fire Observer’s Cabin. Observers were employed on Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain from 1912 until 1988. See below for the history of this historic spot and some information on fire observers of the Adirondacks.
Summit of Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain
The summit of Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain boasts commanding views of the Lake Champlain Valley area. There is a large fire-tower upon the summit and cliffs where you can take a seat and enjoy the views. If you are not afraid of heights, I recommend going up the fire-tower. This hike is also part of the Fire-Tower Challenge. See below for some photos from the summit!
Getting Back to the Trailhead
This hike can be taken as an out-and-back trail, so just follow the Observer’s Trail back down the mountain to the trailhead.
Dog-Friendly
As you can see, from the photos of my dog, Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain is dog-friendly. The trail is more than manageable for a medium to large sized pup. The only note of caution is on the summit near the steep cliffs. Keep an eye on your dog around this area.
Fam-Friendly
This hike is family-friendly, especially the Observer’s Trail. I cannot speak for the Ranger’s Trail which is supposedly steeper. The Observer’s Trail is a gradual climb with no technical areas whatsoever. The round trip distance for both of these hikes is also very manageable. Just make sure you have the appropriate attire for the appropriate season.
Clothes/Gear Worn
- Vasque Winter Hiking Boots
- EMS Winter Hiking Socks
- Athletic shorts
- Hiking Pants
- Wind/Snow Pants
- Athletic T-shirt
- Quarter zip
- LL Bean Outer Shell Jacket (Did not need to wear for this hike for the weather)
- Outdoor Research Glove Liners
- Marmot Expedition Mittens (Did not need to wear for this hike for the weather)
- Winter beanie
Equipment/Food Brought
- 2L of water
- Peanut-butter granola bars and trail-mix
- Extra Pair of EMS Winter Hiking Socks
- Bandana
- Emergency Tent and Blankets (lightweight options are available)
- Knife
- Paracord and Non-Climbing Carabiners
- Waterproof Matches
- Life-Straw (water filtration straw, costs about $20)
- Trekking Poles
- First Aid Kit
- Kahtoola Microspikes
- Garmin InReach (satellite device that has GPS, can send texts, send SOS, and has many other useful features)
RTW Note
Thank you for checking out this post about hiking to the summit of Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain. It is a great day hike offering plenty of views and some interesting history. If you found this post to be helpful, please share it with others as well as subscribing to the Road Trip Warrior blog! Leave a comment if you have done a fire-tower hike or hiked Poke-Moonshine Mountain! All love is appreciated, happy hiking!
-Ant
