Catskill Park
Directions
Available on the Catskill sub-region pages linked above
Park Overview
Thirty-three peaks and ridges on public lands in the Catskills have elevations of 3,500 feet or more; 19 of them have maintained trails to their summits. Hundreds of miles of trails of all degrees of difficulty invite the hiker to this varied and delightful area.
Trail Overview
Catskill Park described on this page is not actually a single park but consists of public and private lands in the Catskills region open to hikers. This website subdivides the Catskills according to geographical location based on the Trail Conference “Catskill Trails” map set
- Catskills – Northeastern (TC Map 141)
- Escarpment Trail
- Devil's Path
- Hunter Mountain (current page to be revised)
- Spruceton Trail
- Overlook Mountain
- Kaaterskill Falls
- North/South Lake Area
- Catskills – Central (TC Maps 142, 145)
- Dry Brook Ridge Trail
- Mill Brook Ridge Trail (Balsam Lake Mountain)
- Pine Hill-West Branch Trail
- Giant Ledge-Panther-Fox Hollow Trail
- Panther Mountain
- Belleayre Mountain
- Catskills – Southern (TC Maps 143, 146)
- Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail (a.k.a. Burroughs Range Trail)
- Peekamoose-Table Trail
- Slide Mountain (page to be revised)
- Catskills – Western (TC Map 144)
- Trout Pond
- Little Pond
- Mongaup Pond
Each of these provides a description of the sub-region, trails overview, and directions.
Trails in the Catskills are marked with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation [DEC] plastic markers nailed to trees - blue for trails that run generally north-south, red for trails running east-west, and yellow for connecting trails or trails running diagonally.
Click to see a larger version of this map overview image.
The Long Path (aqua blaze) traverses the Catskill Park in a north-south direction for 94 miles,
Park Description
Trail Alerts - Catskill Park Click here to find trail alerts and updates for the Catskills. |
Catskill Park
North of the more familiar metropolitan hiking areas are the Catskills, whose high summits and steep climbs can provide especially rewarding hiking. The paved roads through the mountains of Catskill Park are well populated with hotels, bed-and-breakfast establishments, and private homes, but the higher, more rugged and remote parts of these mountains are unspoiled. From the summits and other vantage points, the views are magnificent. To the east, the Hudson River valley is spread out against a backdrop of New England hills, and in all directions lie the fir-topped peaks of the Catskills themselves, with little or no sign of human intrusion.
Thirty-three peaks and ridges on public lands in the Catskills have elevations of 3,500 feet or more; 19 of them have maintained trails to their summits. Hunter and Slide Mountains reach 4,000 feet in elevation.
Hundreds of miles of trails of all degrees of difficulty invite the hiker to this varied and delightful area. Although a great deal of the forest land in the Catskills can be explored using marked trails, hikers can find out what the wilderness is really like only by "getting off the beaten path." Trailless travel, or bushwhacking, often leads to interesting discoveries - a little-known waterfall, a balanced rock, or one of the remains of the mountain industries of the last century. Best of all, bushwhacking heightens the hiker's awareness of the environment.
- Some of the trailless Catskill summits, such as Rocky or Balsam Cap, are thickly overgrown with spruce, making bushwhacking a physically demanding endeavor. Others, such as Halcott or Vly, are relatively open. All hikers - but especially those who plan to bushwhack - should let someone know where they are going before setting out, and their expected time of return.
Keep yourself informed about the latest Catskill news and trails opportunities by visiting the Catskill Trail News and Programs Page.
- Opened in 2015, the Catskill Interpretive Center is “… a place where residents and visitors can learn about [the] unique natural, historical, and cultural resources” of the region.
The Catskill Forest Preserve is comprised of state-owned lands within the "Blue Line" boundary of the Catskills region. The Preserve contains numerous wild forests, wilderness areas and campgrounds managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation [DEC]. Many New York City watershed lands in the Catskills, managed by the NYCDEP, are open for hiking and boating. The Catskill Mountain Club provides a helpful overview with links to the NYCDEP site.