This past weekend I finally had the chance to go on one of the guided hikes in Sterling Forest. My husband and I did the Fire Tower hike, which is about a 4-mile loop that begins at the Sterling Forest Visitor Center. Built in 1922, the fire tower affords an impressive view of Sterling Forest and the surrounding area. Sterling Lake is in the foreground to the northeast, Cedar Pond may be seen to the south, and a potion of Greenwood Lake is visible to the West.
On the way to the tower there are ruins of the old iron mines and remnants of buildings that used to comprise the mining town of Lakeville. It was really interesting to see how much history is here (the first anchor ever forged in NY was made here) and amazing to be able to experience a part of the 22,000 acres of protected state forest. Can't wait for the next hike.
