Hidden in Allamuchy Mountain State Park is the little-known Budd Lake Fire Tower, also known as the 95-Mile Lookout Tower. This tower is one of 21 in New Jersey still used to detect fires. For more information on fire towers in the state, visit the New Jersey Forest Fire Service website. This fire tower is a short walk from the parking area and provides great views of Budd Lake and even Pennsylvania in the distance. Continue reading to learn how to get to this relatively unknown destination.
- Allamuchy Mountain State Park
- Hike Information
- Additional Information
Explore North Jersey Review: Nice, yet unknown fire tower hike
Allamuchy Mountain State Park
Other Attractions: Waterloo Village
The parking area is down a short, unpaved road. The parking lot has some large rocks, but most cars should be okay.
Hike Information
Distance: 2 miles
Ascent: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Budd Lake (95-Mile Lookout) Tower
Height: 60 feet
Tower Coordinates: 40.895067, -74.750433
To reach the Budd Lake Fire Tower, begin at the unpaved parking lot at the end of Station Road. Start the hike by heading towards the back of the parking lot and follow the Green Trail into the woods. After about a mile on the Green Trail, you will reach a woods road used for firewatchers to reach the tower. You will also see the Purple Trail at this point, which is located along the woods road. Turn left onto the Purple Trail and begin a short and easy climb to the base of the tower.
Unlike most fire towers in New Jersey, there is no view at the base. The top of the tower features views of Budd Lake and the Delaware Water Gap in the distance. Budd Lake is partially obscured by trees, but otherwise the view is good, although not the best in the state (the Culver Fire Tower and Catfish Fire Tower are more impressive.) Unfortunately the top cabin is locked, but the you are still able to climb most of the way up and take in the views from just below the cabin.
Note that all fire towers in New Jersey have a “No Trespassing” sign at the base. This sign is not obvious, and there is no fencing to prevent ascending the tower. For these reasons, I believe that the sign is present for liability purposes but is not enforced. In fact, if a fire watcher is present, you can often enter the top cabin itself.
After exploring the tower, I recommend returning down the Purple Trail the way you came. You may notice that the Purple Trail is a loop on the trail map. Past the fire tower, the trail is extremely overgrown and a borderline bushwhack at times.
After returning to the Green Trail, you have two options: return the exact way you came, or create a loop using the rest of the Green Trail. If you decide to make a loop, continue on the woods road, which is now co-blazed with the Green and Purple Trails. In a couple of hundred feet, the Green Trail leaves to the right. Take the Green Trail here. There is one area of the trail that passes under power lines that is very overgrown. Luckily, there is a clear but unmarked trail that parallels it during this stretch before joining the Green Trail again. Continue on the trail until you reach the parking area.
GPS Route
Attached is the route as described above for reference. Additionally users can download the route to use on their preferred GPS. How to use the GPS routes on your phone.
Additional Information
- Click here for posts from other fire towers in New Jersey
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