South Mountain Fire Tower

Trail starts at the intersection of Reservation Road and Tower Road in Pawtuckaway State Park. Park at the T junction and walk 0.1 miles up up Tower Road on the left. You will cross a bridge, head uphill and find another small parking area (2 cars) with a trail headed into the woods. Follow this trail 0.2 miles to another junction with Mountain Trail. Continue straight (right) on Mountain trail 0.1 miles until you reach another junction with signs to State Park Headquarters. Take a left and head up South Mountain Trail to South Mountain Fire Tower. Continue on white blazed trail for .6 miles. Trail is nicely graded with a couple rocky areas and one steep climb. Near summit, trail levels out and opens up onto some rocky slabs with a nice view and firetower on top. You can climb the fire tower for a view, but it is often closed to visitors. To return, retrace steps on the white blaze or return on the orange blaze for 0.6 miles for views in the other direction and then to meet back with white blaze trail to return to car.   Submitted by Elizabeth Wall (Hike it Baby Merrimack Valley)