Andy Arthur.
Leonard Hill.
A short drive up a well-maintained road to a currently closed fire tower.
August 7, 2009.
Related Fodder: Truck Camping On Leonard Hill.
Related Maps: Road Maps, Schoharie County.
Related Photos: Leonard Hill.
There is a currently closed, but slated for reconstruction, fire tower a top Leonard Hill in Schoharie County. You can drive up there with a car or truck as the road is well maintained.
Truck Trail to Tower. This truck trail is well maintained, and quite apparently well used, however it's narrow and somewhat steep, but very much passable by passenger car.
Leonard Hill on August 7, 2009. (N 42° 27' 4.82" W 74° 21' 12.28")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/320 sec, Aperature: f/2.8, ISO 80, EV -1/3, Focal Length: 38mm.
You get there by driving out Broome Center/Potter Hollow Mountain Road, then taking a left up Leonard Mountain Road, which is located right in the middle of Broome Center. You take Leonard Mountain Road about a mile until you see an truck trail marked solely by a "Leonard Hill State Forest", and take a right on it.
Lenoard Hill State Forest Sign.
Leonard Hill on May 12, 2004.
Dimage S414, Exposure: 1/180 sec, Aperature: f/3.6, ISO 64, Focal Length: 139mm.
After about a mile on this truck trail, you are on a ridge between Hubbard Hill and Leonard Hill, and can see Leonard Hill Fire Tower ahead. Continue on that truck trail by another mile, and you'll arrive up to the tower, and you can drive right up to it's base.
Drive Right Up.
Leonard Hill on August 7, 2009. (N 42° 27' 3.53" W 74° 21' 10.62")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/800 sec, Aperature: f/2.8, ISO 80, Focal Length: 38mm.
The tower looks a bit rusted in a places, but structurally good. It is awaiting a reconstruction project that the last time I had heard was delayed by concerns over the high cost of gasoline last summer.
The Tower.
Leonard Hill on August 7, 2009. (N 42° 27' 3.67" W 74° 21' 10.08")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/640 sec, Aperature: f/5.6, ISO 80, Focal Length: 38mm.
To discourage people from climbing a potentially unsafe tower, they have removed the first two flights of stairs.
Bottom Steps Removed.
Leonard Hill on August 7, 2009. (N 42° 27' 3.53" W 74° 21' 10.62")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/250 sec, Aperature: f/2.8, ISO 80, Focal Length: 38mm.
Just across from the tower is a beautiful campsite, with some fantastic views of the Catskills and the Schoharie Valley. I spent the following night down there, camping out. It was cloudy that night, however if the weather was beautiful, there could be a great sunset to watch from here.
With a View.
Leonard Hill on August 7, 2009. (N 42° 27' 4.68" W 74° 21' 12.49")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/640 sec, Aperature: f/4.0, ISO 80, Focal Length: 38mm.
Here is the Schoharie Valley.
Schoharie Valley.
Leonard Hill on August 7, 2009. (N 42° 27' 4.68" W 74° 21' 12.49")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/640 sec, Aperature: f/4.5, ISO 80, Focal Length: 189mm.
Blenhium Mountain and the NYPA Blenhium Power Reservior can be seen well from the campsite. The reservior is partially lit up at night from generating equipment and safety lights by NYPA.
Pump Storage Reservior.
Leonard Hill on August 7, 2009. (N 42° 27' 4.68" W 74° 21' 12.49")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/1000 sec, Aperature: f/3.7, ISO 80, Focal Length: 380mm.
Here is the valley below, and the mountains beyond it, the Emminence State Forest.
Powerlines.
Leonard Hill on August 7, 2009. (N 42° 27' 4.68" W 74° 21' 12.49")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/400 sec, Aperature: f/3.7, ISO 80, Focal Length: 380mm.
Here is a map of Leonard Hill.
View Hikes of 2009 in a larger map
“The policy of the state shall be to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural lands for the production of food and other agricultural products.”
— Article 14, Section 4 NY State Constitution