Owls Head Mountain facts for kids
Owls Head Mountain is a cool mountain located in Long Lake, New York. It's part of the huge Adirondack Park, a special area known for its beautiful nature. This mountain stands tall at about 2,812 feet (which is about 857 meters) above sea level. It's a popular spot for hikers who want to explore the outdoors and see amazing views.
Exploring Owls Head Mountain
This mountain is a great place for an adventure! You can climb Owls Head Mountain from a special starting point called a trailhead. This trailhead is found on Endion Road, which is just off New York State Route 30. It's located a little north of the small town of Long Lake.
The Trail to the Top
The hiking trail up Owls Head Mountain is about 3.2 miles (or 5.1 kilometers) long. As you walk, you'll gain about 1,200 feet (or 366 meters) in height. This means the trail goes steadily uphill, giving you a good workout! There's also a smaller path that branches off the main trail. This side trail leads to Lake Eaton, another beautiful spot nearby.
Amazing Views from the Fire Tower
When you reach the top of Owls Head Mountain, you'll find a tall fire tower. This tower is made of steel and stands about 30 feet (or 9 meters) high. Climbing to the top of the fire tower gives you an incredible 360-degree view! You can see all around the central Adirondack Mountains and the famous Adirondack High Peaks region.
From the tower, you can look out over Long Lake, which stretches for about 14 miles (or 22.5 kilometers). This lake is part of the Raquette River system. You'll also spot other mountains nearby, like Kempshall Mountain. If you look closely, you might even see other fire towers on distant peaks. These include the towers on Blue Mountain, Wakely Mountain, Snowy Mountain, Goodnow Mountain, and Mount Arab.
As you hike towards the summit, you might notice some old stone foundations. These are the remains of a cabin where a fire observer used to live. These observers would watch for forest fires from the tower many years ago.
