Deer Mountain, Pittsburg NH
• 3-star hike
• 4 mile out-and-back
• Moderate | Gain 1,010 feet
• Pittsburg, NH | Great North Woods
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The forest slowly reclaiming the fire tower atop Deer Mountain.
The two mile trail to New Hampshire's northernmost surviving fire tower leads through remote forest terrain. Fortunately the journey follows a well-established trail off Route 3, and is located merely a couple of miles from the Canadian border.
Up here, Route 3 is famously known as Moose Alley due to the high likelihood of spotting one of these immense solitary creatures. Though we didn't spot any during our trek into New Hampshire's Great North Woods, we did encounter signs of moss activity on our trail - fresh hoof tracks and scat. At one point half way along the trail, we even heard a growl emanating from the woods, presumably from a moose. However, we didn't hang around to find out. Our confidence on these more remote hiking trails is bolstered by reading up on the low statistical likelihood of injury from a moose or black bear encounter.
| ⬤ 3★ Deer Mt & Fire Tower Trail
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX? |
The trail commences near a logging road with ample space to park a couple of vehicles. Tracing a path parallel to a creek, passing small waterfalls, it gradually ascends into the forest. The well-defined track is mostly soft underfoot, with few rocks and an occasional root to step over. It's also easy to follow, devoid of junctions or branches leading away from the trail, guiding hikers all the way to the abandoned fire tower, the ultimate destination of this hike. Approaching the wooded summit, we encountered a couple of clearings and navigated some patches of light mud. About a quarter of a mile from the top, we also spotted the metal remnants of what we assume to be an old hut.
The Deer Mountain Fire Tower was originally erected in 1911, and multiple iterations of the structure were built here. The last tower, a steel frame constructed in 1933, was closed in 1976, and the cabin was subsequently removed. However, the skeletal remains of the tower still stand today, with a tree growing through its middle. Scaling the tower is nearly impossible as the timber steps have deteriorated. Attempting to get a view above the tree line, we managed to climb the first flight but decided against proceeding further, even though the tower structure felt stable to us.
It's not just the fire tower's cabin that is missing.
Deer Mountain Fire Tower Trail is a walk through woodland.
A tumbledown nearby house. Not on the route of the trail.
Tangents:
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Deer Mountain
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
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Explore mountain-top hikes around New Hampshire with Trailspotting.
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