New York State Catskill Hiking Trails

Easy Trails
Trail	Description	Directions	Distance (roundtrip)
Giant Ledge	This is a very popular hike that leads a series of ledges offering fantastic views of the Catskill peaks, including at different points Slide, Wittenberg, Big Indian, Hemlock and Eagle that are part of the Indian Head Wilderness Area and the Big Indian-Beaverkill Range Wilderness Area. The ledges are through the brush on your right as you progress on the trail and you will see several before the trail descends to a col before climbing Panther Mountain. You can camp on Giant Ledge. The trail is steep the first .7 mi. and the last stretch and is rocky and difficult in spots.	Giant Ledge Parking area on Ulster 47 reached by NY 28 Start on the Phoenicia-East Branch tr. (yellow) to the Giant Ledge trail.	3 mi
Kaaterskill Fall	This popular hike goes to the base of beautiful Kaaterskill Falls, a 260 foot, two tiered falls dropping 175 feet then 85 feet. It is the largest falls in NY and deserves the crowd it gets. You can continue to the pool after the first segment of the falls and then to the top. The trail is rocky (with sections of steps) and wet in spots so it can be slippery.	The trailhead is on Rt. 23A at the hairpin turn, approx. 3.5 miles west of Palenville.	.8 mi
Moderate Trails
Trail	Description	Directions	Distance (roundtrip)
Lake Minnewaska/Lake Awosting	There are several hikes in the Lake Minnewaska State Park Preserve (845-255-0752) that offer views of its white cliffs, blue waters, wildflowers and dense forests. The trails are mostly carriageways The most varied and scenic is the loop that leaves Lake Minnewaska and circles Lake Awosting. From the parking area, start on the red blazed trail a short distance then take the green blazed Upper Awosting Carriageway. A short side trip on the Long Path takes you to Rainbow Falls. Shortly you will reach Lake Awosting. If you want to continue around the lake, it has fields of wildflowers and azaleas in season, ledge views and duck and geese. It eventually leads right up to the blue blazed carriageway that will take you back. You can stop at the head of the lake and then take an unnamed path that leads to a blue blazed trail toward Hamilton and Castle Point, sweeping views of the Hudson Valley, Shawangunks, Gertrude's Nose formation and Lake Awosting. There are similar ledge views along the trail until it takes you back to the red blazed trail at Lake Minnewaska. You can swim in either lake at its beaches. Spring runoff also adds several unofficial waterfalls along the ledges of the trails.	Lake Minnewaska State Park is on US 44/NY55 reached from NY 299 that goes through the town of New Paltz	10 mi if you go around Lake Awosting around lake, 7.5 if you do not.
Mohonk Preserve	There are several trails in the Mohonk Preserve http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/ preserve, including the 1.5 mile Millbrook Ridge that leads to a panoramic view of the valley and of hawks and Bonticou Crag (3 miles) that also has valley views	Mohonk Preserve in New Paltz New York	Vary
Sams Point Preserve	There are several trails here as well and information on all of them can be obtained at the preserve. Make sure you take the Vanderkill Falls Long Path that is 6 miles and passes waterfalls and cliffs that include Gertrude's Nose and Margaret Cliff. Also take the trail to the Ice Caves, 3 miles	In New Paltz New York	Vary
Ashokan High Point Trail	From Ashokan's summit there are great views of the Hudson Highlands, Ashokan Reservoir and some of the Catskills' high peaks in the Slide Mountain Wilderness area as you move around the summit. This trail is difficult to follow at times if you follow the loop (poor markings after the summit and the trail is not well defined) but the views are worth it. We ended up backtracking the way we came.	The trailhead is on Watson Hollow Rd. (CR 42) reached from NY 28A	7.2 mi
Slide Mountain	The trail to the summit of Slide Mountain is one of the Catskill's most popular hikes. The most scenic route up Slide Mtn. (4180 feet) is by the Curtis Ormsbee trail. Start on the Phoenicia-East Branch tr. (yellow) to the Wittenberg-Cornell tr. (red) to the Curtis Ormsby tr. (blue). You can return by the Wittenberg-Cornell tr. to complete a loop. The views on Slide are considered the Catskill's best. You can see at least seventy peaks (including Twin, Overlook, Indian Head and Cornell and Friday bordering the Ashokan Reservoir), part of the Hudson Valley, and distant views of the Shawangunks, Berkshires and Taconics. The Curtis Ormsbee trail also includes outcroppings that offer good vistas. This area is being closely monitored for deterioration because of the impact all the hiking has taken. Please try to minimize your affect on this area. There is a small fee for parking.	Slide Mtn. trailhead on Ulster 47 reached by NY 28	7 mi. 1,800 ft. elev. change
Blackhead Mountain via Blackhead Mtn. Trail	The best views from Blackhead Mountain (3950 ft.) are from an overlook just before you reach the top and from the top of Black Dome (3990 ft) along the way. You must first pass over Thomas Cole Mtn. where there are no views. The views include some of the Catskills' high peaks, including Hunter, West Kill, Slide, Wittenberg, Cornell, Sugarloaf, Indianhead, Overlook and many others. Take the Black Dome Range Trail 4 miles, then the Blackhead Mtn. Trail .4 mi. to the lookout then .2 mi. to the summit. You can connect with the Batavia Kill Trail to make a loop. The trail is steep in places and very rocky.	The trailhead is on Big Hollow Rd (CR56) reached from CR 40 in Maplecrest, NY.	9.2 mi. to Blackhead summit round trip 6.6 to Black Dome summit round trip
Panther Mountain	The trail to Panther Mountain is the same that leads to Giant Ledge (above) then continues up the Giant Ledge-Panther Fox Hollow trail to Panther's summit. The views on the summit of Panther at 3,860 feet include those on Giant Ledge plus some additional peaks north and the town of Phoenicia.	Giant Ledge Parking area on Ulster 47 reached by NY 28 Start on the Phoenicia-East Branch tr. (yellow) to the Giant Ledge trail.	5 mi.
Overlook Mountain Trail	This is a relatively easy hike (climbs 1,300 ft.) considering its outstanding views of the Catskills peaks. The views from the summit are some of the best in the Catskills. From the summit there are panoramic mountain views almost as far as you can see, including the Indian Head Wilderness (including Indian Plattekill, Sugarloaf, & Kaaterskill Mountains), the Shawangunks, the Black Mountains, Taconics, Berkshires, the Hudson Highlands & Ashokan Reservoir. There is a fire tower at the summit that is open on summer weekends that provides better views. Also, the remains of the Overlook Mountain House, a lodge originally built in 1871 that burned twice and finally closed before the depression are at the summit.	From Woodstock, NY, take Tinker Road north onto Rock City Road	5 mi.
Difficult Trails
Trail	Description	Directions	Distance (roundtrip)
Becker Hollow Trail to Hunter Mtn. Summit	Becker Hollow Trail climbs 2200 feet to Hunter's summit (4,050 feet). It is probably the quickest, steepest route to the summit but it offers the best views. About a quarter mile before reaching the summit, you come to a side trail you will take for 300 feet that leads to an overlook. The side trail is just after you come to the end of the Becker Hollow trail and take the Hunter Mtn. Trail. You get a great view of the Shawangunks, and Rocky, Lone, Wittenberg, Cornell, Table, Peekamouse, Slide and Panther mountains. The view from Hunter's summit is even better and includes views of Rusk, Evergreen and Colonel's Chair mountains and of Kaaterskill Falls.	Trailhead is on NY 214, 1.2 miles south of its intersection with NY 23A	4.6 mi
Devil's Path	Devil's Path in total is over 24 miles and is viewed by many as the best backpacking trip in the Catskills. It is a very strenuous trail summiting several peaks (Indian Head-3573 ft., Plattekill-3110 ft, Sugarloaf-3810 ft, Twin-3650 ft and Plateau-3840 ft.) with steep descents through dense forest and over sometimes rugged terrain. I have only taken day trips to a few summits and each was peaceful and provided views from the summits and at various ledges. A good place to turn around for a day hike is the summit of Indian Head (8.4 mi, round trip). There are southerly views of Ashokan Reservoir and Overlook and Plattekill Mountains. You also get distant views of the Catskills high peaks.	The trailhead is on Prediger Rd. In Tannersville, NY go south on CR 16 from NY 23A. (CR 16 turns into Platte Clove Rd.) After 5.7 miles on CR 16, make a right on Prediger Rd. You will begin seeing trail signs	24 mi. one way. Ends at Spruceton Rd. where you should arrange a shuttle
Twin Mountain via Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail	After .5 miles on the Devil's Path, make a right on the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail. In about 1.5 miles it will reconnect with Devil's Path. Go right then after a mile you will reach the summit of Twin Peak. Just below the summit on a small ledge there are good views of Hunter, Peekamoose, Table Mountains and other northern peaks.	The trailhead is on Prediger Rd. In Tannersville, NY go south on CR 16 from NY 23A. (CR 16 turns into Platte Clove Rd.) After 5.7 miles on CR 16, make a right on Prediger Rd. You will begin seeing trail signs	6.2 mi
Pecoy Notch Trail to Sugarloaf Mountain	You reach this trail after a quarter mile on Roaring Kill trail. You will reach Pecoy Notch in 1.7 mile as you go through hardwood forests with occasional views of the Catskill's peaks. Another 1.3 miles on Devils Path takes you to Sugarloaf's summit. A lookout gives views of Giant Ledge, the Ashokan Reservoir, Shawangunks and Hudson Highlands	The trail starts at the Roaring Kill Trailhead on Elka Park Road reached by CR 16, 3 miles from Tannersville and NY 23A.	6.5 mi.
Seager-Big Indian Trail to Eagle and Big Indian Mtns.	This trail leads to an intersection with the Pine Hill-West Branch Trail at 3.1 miles. Go north 1.1 miles to Eagle Mountain (3,610 feet) or south 1.3 miles to Big Indian Mountain (3,710 feet)	The trailhead is 9.7 miles north of Arkville at the end CR 49	Eagle Mtn - 8.4 mi. Big Indian Mtn - 8.8 mi.