Mount Nimham Fireplace Tower Loop

March 21, 2021 – Carmel Hamlet, NY

Issue: Reasonable

Size: Roughly 2.3 miles

Max elevation: 1356 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 440 ft.

Route kind: Circuit

Maps: Ninham Mountain MUA DEC Path Map – Ninham Mountain MUA Path Map

Trailhead parking: Ninham Mountain A number of Use Space
Mt. Ninham Courtroom, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512

---

Overview:

The 1,054-acre Nimham Mountain A number of Use Space may be very standard with bikers, hikers and horseback riders and has an in depth community of trails and outdated roads. Forest cowl is especially blended hardwoods with some conifer plantations. Please remember that forest administration actions, comparable to timber thinning or harvesting, could disrupt path use at occasions. The forests listed here are managed to provide forest crops, preserve various wildlife habitats, defend water high quality and supply leisure alternatives.

Mount Nimham is a sprawling promenade positioned in the midst of the City of Kent. The ridge consists of three separate summits with the middle summit being the tallest. It types the southwestern wall of the valley generally known as Whang Hole. It’s the highest level within the City of Kent and is well-known for its steep slopes and excessive ridge traces. The mountain boasts rocky outcrops, deep gorges and excessive ridges. It’s dotted with glacial erratics and boulder fields.  
Please be aware: This A number of Use Space can also be closely utilized by hunters in season.

The identify was just lately modified from “Ninham” to “Nimham” to appropriate an extended standing spelling error.

Positioned on the 1273 ft. summit of Nimham Mountain is an 82-ft. 6-inch metal tower that’s open to the general public. With 360° views of the Hudson Valley and the Catskills seen within the distance, makes the Mount Nimham Fireplace Tower the first focal point when visiting. From the highest of the hearth tower there are excellent views of the encircling countryside. To the east lies Whang Hole, together with Pine Pond, Townsend Ridge, Barrett Hill, Beaver Hill, and Hemlock Ledge; to the north, Stockholm Hill and Little and Large Buck Mountains; to the west, Clear Pool and the Boyd Reservoir and Dam; and to the south, Coles Mills and the West Department Reservoir.

---

Historical past:

Initially identified regionally as Smalley’s Hill, the mountain is called after Chief Daniel Nimham, the best Wappinger Sachem and a real American hero. A patriot, Chief Nimham fought and gave his life for American independence, regardless of having misplaced his ancestral homeland to the Philipse household and the very settlers he was preventing for. It’s reported that Chief Nimham got here to this mountain on each birthday he celebrated, climbing to the highest to proclaim all that may very well be seen because the ancestral homeland of the Wappinger.

The unique outdated development forest was cleared to create planting and grazing fields, with the wooden used to construct shelters, gas fireplaces, and supply a income for the farmers. As well as, mining operations have been carried out to take away serpentine and mineral deposits, notably arsenic. When farming declined within the early 1900’s, New York State bought the outdated farmland and finally designated nearly all of the mountain as a A number of Use Space.

Mount Nimham Fireplace Tower:

A street to the highest of the mountain was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1940. The CCC from camp P-135 in Peekskill, NY (Tompkins Corners from 1-5-38 to 1-15-42), acquired the 82 ½ foot tower and by the top of the 1940 work season, the tower, an observer’s cabin, and a cellphone line have been all constructed. The station went into service in 1941 and in its first 12 months reported 73 fires. 

Mount Ninham’s tower quickly turned a well-liked vacation spot for the general public because it supplied nice views in all instructions. The tower remained in service into the 1970’s when the observer’s place turned extra of an assistant Forest Ranger (very like many within the State), and the tower was staffed on these larger fireplace hazard days. Formally paid as an observer, the tower’s staffing reportedly ended after the 1988 fireplace season and the tower was formally closed in early 1989 when the Division of Environmental Conservation decided that fireside towers have been not efficient and determined to section them out of service.

Shortly after its official closure, vandals moved in and destruction took its course, first damaging the tower & home windows. The observer’s cabin was damaged into and burned in 1994. The tower sat derelict for quite a lot of years with rumors of its removing being held up by NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. The Kent Conservation Advisory Committee restored the tower in 2005 and the official re-dedication was held on July 24, 2005. Mount Nimham Fireplace Tower is at present open to the general public and is on the the Nationwide Historic Lookout Register.

The Kent Conservation Basis owns the formal stewardship settlement to keep up the Nimham fireplace lookout tower and coordinates volunteer actions to maintain this outdated fireplace lookout tower open and accessible to the general public. Right now, the Kent Conservation Basis, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group, maintains this historic fireplace lookout tower via donations. Their major aim is the elevate sufficient funds to repaint the complete construction to proceed to guard the metal from getting older and weathering. It was final totally painted in 2004 and it’s due for a repaint. They do common upkeep portray to cowl graffiti and hold the hearth tower wanting neat in addition to preserve the stone chamber close to the car parking zone.

---

Trails Overview:

The Ninham A number of Use Space is bisected by Gipsy Path Street and has roughly 10 miles of trails and unpaved forest entry roads that enable for a number of sorts of recreation. To the west, from the Mount Nimham Courtroom parking space, two north-south major dust fireplace roads start from the parking space. The hearth roads move via outdated fields, deciduous woods, and by a small pond. There’s an in depth community of single monitor trails that department off from the principle fireplace roads which are utilized by hikers, bikers and horseback riders. To the east, from the Gipsy Path Rd parking space, there are extra trails to discover.

Please be aware: There are such a lot of trails that snake via the mountain, some insufficiently blazed or by no means, that if venturing off the principle fireplace roads, it’s strongly suggested to hold a path map and a compass to keep away from getting misplaced.

There are 4 entry factors that enable parking on the Ninham A number of Use Space. They’re as follows:

---

Hike Overview:

Having visited the Catfish Fireplace Tower within the Delaware Water Hole the earlier weekend, I used to be within the temper to get pleasure from some extra 360° views from one other tower. This additionally made for an exquisite various to a few of the extra standard and crowded climbing spots within the Hudson Valley. Once we arrived on the trailhead at roughly 8am, there have been a number of vehicles already there and noticed a runner leaving his car at the moment. On the summit, we noticed a lone hiker that stopped briefly and upon our return to the trailhead, on the completion of our hike, we noticed a number of folks simply embarking on their hike. 

This can be a brief loop hike using Tower Street and an outdated DEC path that’s primarily utilized by mountain bikers. This path is marked with sporadic blue DEC blazes, however the single monitor path is effectively worn and comparatively simple to observe. We didn’t encounter any bikers, however there have been recent tire tracks seen.

Useful Trace: I used Gaia GPS (free app) to assist navigate this path as their map layers present most if not the entire trails on this property.

If you’re not sure of your navigational abilities, you possibly can merely return on the hearth street, retracing your steps after visiting the tower.  

---

The Hike:

There’s a stone chamber proper on the parking space. This one is totally different than others that I’ve seen. This metal roofed chamber was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as a storage locker for tools once they have been engaged on constructing the hearth tower and different features on Nimham Mountain. In contrast to the mysterious stone chambers which are discovered all through the world, this stone construction has mortared stones, metal beams throughout the inside ceiling and a corrugated metal roof.

From the parking space, proceed previous the gate to the proper of the kiosk. That is proven on the map as “Tower Street.” The street, in-built 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, snakes its means up Ninham Mountain. 

In about 200 yards or so, simply off the path on the proper, is one other stone chamber. Within the hotter months, this chamber could also be obscured by foliage and troublesome to see. It’s possible you’ll wish to cease and take a look at this fascinating historic function.

Tower Street continues climbing and after about 0.7 mile and almost 350-ft. of elevation acquire, the street reaches the hearth tower.

Mount Nimham Fireplace Tower is an Worldwide Derrick Mannequin 1937, product of Carnegie Metal. The design of the 1937 mannequin is solely a U.S. Forest Service design making minor modifications from the mannequin 1933 design.

The stairway configuration on the Worldwide Derricks rises up from the bottom operating from nook to nook inside the hearth tower’s superstructure between small triangular landings. The stairway design created security issues and have become unpopular with state officers. On account of these issues, when the state bought ten new fireplace towers between 1948 and 1950, the Aermotor LS-40 fireplace tower was chosen.

After climbing greater than 100 steps to the cab of the roofless fireplace tower, one is greeted with 360° views, that makes the climb worthwhile.

Trying south in the direction of the West Department Reservoir from Mount Nimham Fireplace Tower.

The Catskill Mountains to the northwest.

Trying southwest.

Trying north.

Not removed from the hearth tower is the survey marker.

We didn’t spot any raptors, however did see a number of Jap Bluebirds whereas stress-free close to the bottom of the tower.

If you find yourself able to proceed, retrace your steps alongside Tower Street. In about 500 toes from the tower, search for a footpath that goes off to the proper. Comply with the footpath because it leads away from the hearth street then begins to parallel it. It’s possible you’ll start to see some blue DEC markers. Quickly the path begins to run alongside an outdated stone wall, bordering non-public property because it descends. 

There are some minor ups and downs alongside the path because it zig-zags via the woods. Preserve an eye fixed out for mountain bikers.

The path turns into higher blazed because it descends, however it’s effectively worn and comparatively simple to observe for a lot of the means. 

In about 0.8 mile from the beginning of the Blue Path, it involves a T-intersection. Flip left and a brief distance later, the path widens to a woods street bordered by stone partitions.  

In about one other 750 toes, the path reaches Tower Street, immediately reverse of the stone chamber that you just handed on the way in which up. Flip proper and observe Tower Street again to the parking space, the place the hike started.

---

Assessment:

A pleasant stroll up the hearth street to excellent views from the hearth tower. The return on the Blue Path was extra of a real hike via the woods. In the event you get pleasure from fireplace towers and the views that they supply, this place is certainly price a go to. I plan on a return go to to discover extra of the paths. 

Execs:

Mount Nimham Fireplace Tower, 360° views, stone chambers, not as crowded as different fireplace towers within the area.

Cons:

Aspect trails may very well be higher blazed.

---

Take a hike!

---

Sources:

---