Bald Mountain (Rondaxe) Fire Tower
Central Adirondacks, New York · 2,336 ft
Typical peak
Sep 28 – Oct 6
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunset
Open rock ledges and a restored steel fire tower sit above the Fulton Chain of Lakes, stacking water and hardwood ridgeline in one frame. The bare ledge supplies foreground rock without hiking above treeline.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Park at the marked Rondaxe trailhead on Rondaxe Road off NY 28 northeast of Old Forge and walk 0.9 mile up.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- red maple
- yellow birch
- eastern hemlock
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 2Typical color progression for Bald Mountain (Rondaxe) Fire Tower. No change from Aug 25 to Sep 11. First color from Sep 11 to Sep 20. Approaching peak from Sep 20 to Sep 28. Peak from Sep 28 to Oct 6. Past peak from Oct 6 to Oct 16. Bare from Oct 16 to Oct 30.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 11.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 6
10 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
55°F / 33°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Bald Mountain (Rondaxe) Fire Tower on October 2, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:29 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 94° | 6:58 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 38 min of low, warm light | 7:36 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:49 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 38 min before sunset | 6:01 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 266° | 6:39 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:08 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 42m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.