Woodhull Mountain

 

Woodhull Mountain, located six miles south of Old Forge, offers some views, and it’s one spot where bicyclists can get a head start on hikers. The former railroad bed, which carries the trail in from McKeever, gives hikers the chance to get off their feet and use their bikes most of the way before locking up their bikes and hiking up the mountain. 

 

Woodhull Mountain's first fire tower was closed at the end of the 1970 season when the state's Department of Environmental Conservation instituted its system of aerial wildfire detection. This tower still remains, however, and is accessible to the public all but the tower cab.

 

This trip to the 2365 foot summit of Woodhull Mountain and its fire tower would be a very long, 15 mile hike.  A popular way to reach the summit is to bike on the old railroad gravel road until the trail is no longer suitable for bike riding. At that point you can tie up your mountain bike and then climb the rest of the mountain. 

 

You can also drive your vehicle along the road on the right of the main parking area.  This stone dirt road is called Wolf Lake Landing Road.  You could drive this road up to another parking area that cuts a lot off from the long hike, although it's still at least a 9+ mile round trip hike. You can still use your bike from this trailhead as well.

Woodhull Mountain is part of the "ADK Fire Tower Challenge".

 

Directions to Trailhead:

At McKeever, on NY 28 South of Old Forge, take McKeever road (if travelling south bound on NY 28 this paved road is on your left just past the Moose River Bridge). At 0.25 miles the paved road curves to the left, go straight here on the narrow gravel road for 0.4 miles to a large parking area that includes a kiosk as well as a map of the area trails. This is the McKeever parking area.

 

Continuing straight ahead you reach two gated roads, a rough woods dirt road to the left and a good gravel road to the right. Drive the good gravel road on the right for just over 3 miles to a small parking area, posted with a number of DEC trail signs. This is the trailhead for the Remsen Falls Trail. The GPS coordinates of the McKeever parking area is N43 36.747 W75 05.445. The GPS coordinates for the small parking area for the Remsen Falls Trail is N43 37.096 W75 02.165. Be sure you don't block the gate or road for access by the disabled.