Poke-O-Moonshine
The Region : High Peaks, Adirondacks (NY)
Start Location : Along Route 9
Altitude: 664m (2178ft)
Ascention : 380m (1250ft)
Distance from start : 3.8km (2.4miles) round trip
Height rank : N/A
Parking : Parking lot at the base
Trail Markings : Red DEC Disks
Toilet : At the lean-to (near the top)
Weather Conditions : Plattsburg (NY)
Dates : 2017-10-06 (Richelle C., Ben R., Marisol M.)
If you’ve ever gone to the High Peaks Region from the I-87 South, you’ve noticed Poke-O-Moonshine. I’ve often refered to it as the “Gate to the High Peaks”.
You can’t miss it. On it’s side is one of the most beautiful cliffs in the ADKs. On a nice summer day, the cliff is packed with Climbers, showing off their skills to everybody heading to the High Peaks region.
The Start
This is one of the shortest peak hikes in the high peaks region. Don’t be fooled by it’s length, you are ascending the whole time!
We were happy to have done this hike on Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend, which is one of the best to see the colors and to get amazing weather.
This hike is very well maintained. For the first half of the hike, you are walking up rocky steps. There aren’t many view points but we were in awe and the handiwork that went into this 1km-ish long rocky stair case!
Along the trail
Along the trail, there is a lean-to as well as some remnants of the fire tower’s operative’s cabin, which was in function in the first half of the 20th century.
If you go in the right months, there are a lot of blueberries, raspberries and bunchberries. Unfortunately for us, there were no more fruit on the plants.
View Points/Fire Tower
The two main view points are at the 3/4 of the ascent and at the top.
The Fire Tower is accessible in the summer months (not the fall). We were able to climb to the top, but the hatch was closed.
On top of the fire tower, you would have a 360 degree view of Lake Champlain, The High Peaks and, on a good day, Platsburgh.
There is a little bit of vegetation at the summit but it’s mainly rocky.
Happy Hiking
Poke-O-Moonshine Firetower 🔥⛰️ #adirondackfiretower #hiking
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