When my husband, Herb, and I climbed Balsam Lake Mountain in the Catskills two summers ago, the husband-and-wife team of Tom and Laurie Rankin were at the summit to greet us. Volunteer ...

The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge encourages hikers to visit the fire towers on Balsam Lake Mountain in Hardenburgh, Hunter Mountain in Hunter, Overlook Mountain in Woodstock, Red Hill Mountain ...

The Catskills can’t be beat for convenience ... climbs a steep ridge to the summit of Balsam Lake Mountain–with great views of the Delaware River Valley from New York’s oldest fire tower ...

For spectacular fall foliage, John Lavelle ranks the Balsam Lake trail as one of the best ... The trails are milder and easier than the eastern Catskills. You can go from the fiery yellow ...