Hannah the hiker

In an effort to find a quick hike near Watertown, I stumbled upon Cathedral Rock and Firetower in Wanakena. I hiked this trail July 13, 2024.

The trail starts behind the Ranger School and there is a huge parking lot available. I went on a sunny Saturday and surprisingly I was only the third car in the lot. I assume it is not as popular as some of the better known high peak trails.

Starting from the parking lot you begin walking past a gate and take a right onto the Latham trail. There is a trail register as well as pamphlets that describe the features of the self-guided nature walk on Latham trail. There are a couple of small streams and dirt roads to cross over along the way.

At about .7 miles you will cross over the last road and begin the steep part of the climb. The trail pass over some steep cliffs, but it’s not anything terrible for a large sized dog and tall person. The climb is about 225 feet uphill, it’s short and sweet.

Once you reach the top there is a pavilion with a picnic table and a nice view. There is also a plaque that serves in memory of an 11 year old boy who slid off the cliffs of the trail. Another reminder that although the hike might not look like much, you can never be too safe around steep cliffs or drop offs.

Further past the pavilion is the fire tower. This fire tower originally sat at Tooley Pond Mountain but was relocated in 1970 to the Ranger School Campus. The view from the fire tower is nice. I always get a little spooked walking up the tower steps, so if you are like me just take your time! My dog, Cash, who is especially spooked by new things, went up the tower slow and steady. We enjoyed the view at the top and had a snack before making the walk back to the car. There was a small patch of raspberry bushes along the trail, and I took some time to stop there and help myself to the treat.

The trail is about 2 miles, making it a quick out and back. I’d say this is the perfect trail for young families, or quick trail runs. According to multiple websites, it is one of the easiest fire tower hikes in the Fire Tower Challenge.

I took a simple backpack, with the 10 essentials, some granola bars, dog treats/food, and water for my dog and I. Mud and bugs were not a terrible issue on the hike either. The trail was also relatively easy to follow, with several trail markers guiding the way.

After you get done hiking I’d also recommend taking a dip in the river nearby!