Camp Winonah
Campground
Campground · 6.3 mi from the trail
New York · Hiking · Near New Windsor
Fire Tower Connector Trail
Photo: History tower, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.5 mi
- one way
- 191 ft
- climb
- 968 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
The Fire Tower Connector Trail is a short, moderate hike in Sterling Forest State Park in New York, managed by State Park and Recreation. It is a point-to-point route of about half a mile, with a high point of 968 feet and a low of 765 feet. The trail gains about 191 feet in elevation, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.34 miles in, with a grade of 17 percent. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 75°F, with September also seeing the fewest wet days of the year. The hike takes about half an hour. Lakeville and the Lakeville Ironworks Trail both lie within half a mile, and Mckeags Meadow is about 0.7 miles away. Across the state line in New Jersey, Monksville Reservoir offers lake fishing about 5 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsDoug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOpen-air museum and sculpture park located in Mountainville, New York
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 (commons)
More in New WindsorLocal outfitters
- Pier 13 Hoboken33 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Fire Tower Connector Trail
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
36° / 19°
11 wet
Feb
39° / 19°
9 wet
Mar
47° / 27°
11 wet
Apr
59° / 38°
11 wet
May
70° / 48°
11 wet
Jun
78° / 57°
11 wet
Jul
83° / 61°
10 wet
Aug
81° / 59°
9 wet
Sep
75° / 52°
8 wet
Oct
63° / 41°
9 wet
Nov
51° / 32°
8 wet
Dec
41° / 25°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Charlotteburg Rsvr, NJ, 14.1 mi away at 778 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: rpkelly22, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Lakeville
Next door
0.61-mile out-and-back trail in New York state park with 196 ft gain
Photo: rpkelly22, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Bare Rock Trail
~1 min drive
Point-to-point NY trail featuring exposed rock outcrops and scenic vistas.
Photo: rpkelly22, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Pine Meadow
~2 min drive
7.49-mile out-and-back trail in New York State Park and Recreation land.
Photo: Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Lake to Lake Trail
~4 min drive
Lake to Lake Trail is a 4.56-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 610 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: rpkelly22, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Sterling Lake Loop
Next door
0.40-mile out-and-back out-and-back at Sterling Lake in New York with 90 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Sterling Ridge
~4 min drive
5.83-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 769 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Red Back
~4 min drive
Red Back is a 5.52-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 1,797 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: LukeGordon1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Sterling Valley Loop
~4 min drive
Sterling Valley Loop is a 4.90-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 805 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: rpkelly22, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Lakeville Ironworks Trail
Next door
0.44-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 286 ft of elevation gain
HIKE
Ramapo Dunderberg Trail
~8 min drive
Challenging 15-mile point-to-point ridge hike through New York's Ramapo Mountains.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
