Located in Stokes State Forest along the Kittatinny Mountains is the easy-to-reach Culver Fire 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 only about 1.5 miles from the parking lot and features a moderate uphill climb near the start. Hikers are rewarded with excellent views of western New Jersey, and even views into the neighboring states of Pennsylvania and New York. Continue reading to learn how to get to the Culver Fire Tower.
Stokes State Forest
Other Attractions: Tillman Ravine, Stony Brook Falls, Big Flatbrook
* The parking area for this hike is free. Other parking areas in Stokes State Forest do charge a park fee from Memorial Day to Labor Day. See their website for current pricing.
Hike Information
Distance: 3.2 miles
Ascent: 600 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Culver Fire Tower
Height: 47 feet
Tower Coordinates: 41.18789, -74.76649
Begin by turning left onto the White Appalachian Trail from the parking area. You will remain on this trail for the entirety of the hike. Almost immediately after starting the trail, you will cross Sunrise Mountain Road and begin hiking a moderately steep incline. After about half a mile, you will reach a clearing with an overlook to the south. This overlook is decent, but pales in comparison to the main tower view.
Continue on the Appalachian Trail for about a mile. During this time, you are hiking along a thin ridgeline, but unfortunately, there are no views.. The trail gradually climbs upwards across this mile, but the steepest section is already behind you. Soon enough, you will reach another large clearing and the Culver Fire Tower.
The top of the fire tower features excellent views in all directions. Unfortunately, the top cabin is locked unless a fire watcher is present, but the views from below it are still great. From the tower, you can see the farmlands of western New Jersey to the east, and Pennsylvania to the west. On clear days, you can also see the High Point monument and into New York. For those not wanting to climb the tower, there are still excellent views from the base, especially west into Pennsylvania.
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.
From the fire tower, retrace your steps to return to your car to complete your 3.2 mile journey.
GPS Route
Attached is the route as described above for reference. Additionally users can download the route to use on their preferred GPS.
Additional Information
- Click here for other fire towers in New Jersey such as the Catfish Fire Tower in the nearby Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
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