This is my favourite Woodstock walk.It’s 5 miles round trip and fairly challenging. There’s a lot of up involved!
However, your efforts will be rewarded at the top with spectacular views of the Catskills. I’d recommend wearing walking boots and taking plenty of water, especially during the summer months. Start early if it’s going to be a hot day and allow 3 hours for the round trip. There is a parking lot for about 20 cars at the start of the climb, across the road from the Buddhist Temple on Meads Mountain Road. This can fill up quickly if the weather is good.
The first 2 miles of the walk is through the woods, after 2 miles of steady climbing, you will reach the ruins of the old never completed Overlook mountain hotel.
It was built to replace the original 19th-century hotel which was destroyed by fire. Continue past the hotel and follow the windy path to the fire tower. There are 360-degree views from the top of the tower, although the climb up the open staircase can get a little hairy on a windy day! This is a dog-friendly walk.
