There’s a steel fire tower sitting on top of Mount Olga in Wilmington, Vermont, and the 360-degree view from the top is one of the best in southern Vermont. The hike to get there is short, the trail is well-marked, and the payoff is enormous. Molly Stark State Park is where you’ll find it – and it’s only about 15 minutes from our door at Valley View Villa.
The Trail
The Mount Olga Trail is a 1.7-mile loop marked by blue blazes. It starts across from the park office, crosses a small brook, and climbs gradually through northern hardwoods with several switchbacks. Higher up, the forest shifts to spruce and fir – you can smell the change before you see it. At about 0.7 miles, a short spur leads to the summit and the fire tower.
The full loop takes about an hour to an hour and a half, with roughly 520 feet of elevation gain. It’s rated moderate, but honestly, anyone in reasonable shape can handle it. Kids included – ours have done it, and they were more excited about the tower than tired from the walk.
If you want an even shorter option, the Tower Trail from the Hogback Mountain parking area covers just 1.4 miles out-and-back with about 280 feet of elevation gain. That one takes 30 to 45 minutes.
The Fire Tower
The steel tower was originally built on Bald Mountain at Townshend State Forest and moved to Mount Olga in the late 1950s. It replaced an octagonal wooden tower that the Division of Forestry built in 1930 – a design that may have been unique to Vermont. None of those wooden towers survive today.
The tower is open to the public and sturdy enough that you don’t think twice climbing it. At the base, you can’t see much beyond the treeline. But once you’re up top, the views open in every direction.
What You’ll See
🏔 The southern Green Mountains rolling out to the north and west
🌬 The Searsburg wind farm turbines spinning to the west
⛷ Mount Snow’s ski trails cutting through the forest to the northwest
🏞 The Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts to the south
🗻 Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire to the east on clear days
It’s a legitimate three-state panorama from a single platform. On a clear morning, it’s hard to leave.
What to Know Before You Go
📍 705 Route 9 East, Wilmington, VT – about 3 miles east of downtown Wilmington
🕐 Day use hours are 10 AM to sunset, Memorial Day weekend through mid-October
💲 Day-use admission is $4 per person
🐕 Dogs are welcome on leash
🅿 Parking is across from the park office
The park also has 23 tent/RV sites and 11 lean-to shelters if you want to make a weekend of it. Campground restrooms have hot showers, and sites run $20-$28/night depending on residency.
One thing to note – the trails can be muddy in spring, especially April and early May. Vermont’s mud season is real. Late May through October is the sweet spot. Fall foliage season here is spectacular, and the tower gives you a front-row seat to the color show.
Worth the Detour
If you’re staying at Valley View Villa and looking for a morning hike that won’t eat your whole day, this is the one. You can be at the trailhead in 15 minutes, summit in under an hour, and be back in time for lunch at Dot’s in Wilmington or a lazy afternoon by the pond.
For longer hikes in the area, check out our guide to the best hiking trails near Mount Snow. And if you’re here in summer, the Hogback Mountain Conservation Area is right next door with its own trails and the famous 100-mile view.
