Fingerboard Mountain Lookout
WillhiteWeb.com
Status: Former Lookout
Elevation: 1,320 feet,
Prominence: 110 feet or so
State: New York
County: Orange
AT Access: 0.2 mile side road with 100 foot gain
In 1928, a 60-foot tall Aermotor LS40 tower was built on the northeast summit of Fingerboard Mountain by the Palisades State Park Commission in Harriman State Park. The tower was one of three similar towers erected that same year. The others being on Bear Mountain and Jackie Jones Mountain. With the completion of the towers the Park Commission felt that an adequate system of fire detection had been attained for the park.
In the 1970s, the tower was closed and removed.
Fingerboard on a 1947 map
Fingerboard on a 1935 map
Fingerboard on a 1930 map
Fingerboard Mountain tower
Appalachian Trail as it passes Fingerboard Mountain
Access:
When the trail crosses Arden Valley Road, there is a gated road just a short distance east. It is easiest to just walk this rarely driven road to the summit. If the brush does not look to intimidating, you could drop off the summit directly back to the Appalachian Trail. I chose to walk the access road back toward the Arden Valley Road until the brush was not bad, then dropped to the AT.
For Thru Hikers
If you walk down the Arden Valley Road to the Tiorati Circle, you find a large state park beach, picnic area, vending machines, restrooms, showers, outlets, and water from spigots.
These are all around the site and based on the historic image, they are from the fence than encircled the lookout.
Fingerboard Mountain Lookout site
Fingerboard Mountain Lookout site
Glass and other stuff