Elmore Mountain Fire Tower

What to bring

Day-hike essentials for this trail. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Elmore Mountain is one of Vermont‘s most accessible fire-tower hikes: a short loop from a lakeside trailhead in Elmore State Park, with a restored 1939 tower at the 2,608-foot summit and a view that justifies the climb. The catch is that the maps undersell the difficulty. The Fire Tower Trail side of the loop has narrow ledges and a steep stone uphill with carved footholds that hikers consistently describe as the scariest part of the day.

What to Expect on the Trail

The trailhead sits at the Elmore State Park main lot on the south shore of Lake Elmore. The first third of the route is the approach to the loop split, which catches first-timers because most map estimates do not factor it in. From the loop junction, the standard recommendation from park staff is to go clockwise: up the Ridge Trail, down the Fire Tower Trail. This puts the steeper, scarier descent in the less-exposed direction of travel for most hikers.

The Ridge Trail climbs gradually through hardwood forest and then spruce-fir, with several open ledges that provide preview views before the summit. The trail surface is mostly packed dirt with rocky sections and roots, and the grade is steady but not punishing. The transition into the spruce belt near the top is the visual cue that the summit is close.

The summit clearing holds a small ranger cabin and the restored steel fire tower. The tower opens to climbers and gives a 360° panorama from the cab: Lake Elmore directly below, the Green Mountain main ridge to the south, the Worcester Range to the east, and Lake Champlain on the western horizon. A natural ledge viewpoint just below the cab provides the same view at ground level for anyone uncomfortable with the climb.

The Fire Tower Trail descends from the summit on the steeper side of the mountain. The stone uphill section, which becomes a stone downhill on the recommended route, has hand-cut footholds in the rock and a couple of narrow ledges. Hikers regularly describe this section as harder than the easy rating suggests, with shorter hikers needing extra attention at the footholds.

How Hard Is This Trail, Really?

Officially easy in some sources and moderate in others. The actual experience lands closer to moderate, with the 1,500 feet of climbing over the loop concentrated in the Fire Tower Trail half. The Ridge Trail side is the family-friendly path; the Fire Tower side is where the trail earns its reputation. Hikers consistently report that going clockwise (Ridge up, Fire Tower down) is the easier direction.

Most fit hikers complete the loop in 3 to 4 hours, including time at the summit and tower. The Ridge Trail half takes about 90 minutes up, the summit visit adds 20 to 30 minutes, and the Fire Tower descent runs about an hour with the careful footwork the upper section requires. Wet weather makes the stone foothold section genuinely treacherous; hikers consistently warn against doing the Fire Tower side in or right after rain.

Best Time to Go

Mid-September through early October delivers the standout window. Vermont fall color across the Worcester Range and the Green Mountain ridge from the summit is the photographic payoff, and the cooler temperatures make the climb comfortable. Late September catches the maples; mid-October moves into the beech and birch palette.

Summer pairs the climb with a Lake Elmore swim from the state park beach below the trailhead, which makes the trip a logical full-day outing. Spring brings mud through May and into June, plus the surprise of late-season ice that can stay on the upper trail into April. Winter requires real planning: the state park gate closes seasonally, hikers walk in from the road, and microspikes are a baseline requirement on the Fire Tower Trail side.

Before You Go

Elmore State Park charges a day-use fee during the season, typically Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. The trailhead and the loop remain hikeable off-season with the gate closed, but no facilities are available. Bathrooms, water, picnic shelters, and the lake beach all run during the official season.

Cell service is workable at the lakeside trailhead and patchy on the climb, with a clear signal at the summit ledge. Lake Elmore village a few minutes south has gas and a small store; Morrisville about 10 minutes west has the larger restaurant and grocery options. The state park is approximately 4.5 hours from Washington DC via I-89 and 1.5 hours from Burlington, which makes it a logical add-on to a longer Vermont weekend.

Dogs on leash are welcome throughout the park and on both trails. Owners should know that the stone foothold section on the Fire Tower Trail is genuinely awkward for medium and large dogs, and the Ridge Trail is the friendlier option for groups bringing pets.

Word from the Trail

Elmore Mountain is the rare Vermont hike where the directional choice matters more than the trail length. Hikers consistently describe the difference between going clockwise and counterclockwise as the difference between an easy outing and a memorably scary one, with the Fire Tower Trail’s stone footholds catching shorter hikers and first-timers off guard. The state park staff routinely advise the clockwise direction at the trailhead, and the consistency of that advice tells the story.

The view from the cab is the destination. The Worcester Range across the valley, the Green Mountain spine running south, Lake Champlain on the western horizon, and Lake Elmore directly below combine into one of the better small-mountain fire-tower panoramas in northern Vermont. For visitors anchoring a weekend around Stowe or the Lamoille Valley, Elmore Mountain is the half-day hike that combines summit, lake, and a piece of Vermont’s restored fire-tower network.

Gear for this hike

Our day-hike checklist — the picks that show up again and again from tested gear roundups. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

LOWA Renegade EVO GTX MidGORE-TEX, 3 widths, resolableCheck price on Amazon →Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32ozinsulated, durableCheck price on Amazon →Osprey Talon 22ventilated back, pole carryCheck price on Amazon →Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .7day-hike specific, waterproofCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Spot 400-Rrechargeable, comfortableCheck price on Amazon →Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacketdurable, trail + everydayCheck price on Amazon →Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Midweightlifetime warrantyCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Polescork grip, lightweightCheck price on Amazon →Sawyer Squeeze Water Filterultralight, standard threadsCheck price on Amazon →