This is part 3 of 35 of my series of the Catskill 3500 Club peaks. Along with Hunter this is by far the most accessible of the peaks. The trailhead for the Escarpment Trail is located right on Route 23 about 3 miles east of the Village of Windham and about 10 miles west of Cairo.
The first mile starts off simple enough. The trail is fairly level with some gradual climbs and not too many rocks. Lots of hardwoods here, so it's a pretty stroll this time of year. Though peak foliage should be next week. About a quarter mile before one reaches the shelter, the trail steepens a bit with a few switchbacks. This is a great spot to just chill a bit before the steep 2 miles to the summit.
From the shelter, the climb up to Windham gets a bit more serious, but still one of the easier ascents among the high peaks of the Catskills. The trail climbs relentlessly, but no scrambling is ever necessary. There is one fairly steep section about a quarter mile before the summit, but I have to agree with my friend that the climb up to Windham is the most runnable section of the Escarpmant Trail (except for the 1,700 feet elevation gained).
On a great day like today, the views are exceptional. The first view point gives the exhausted hiker a close up view of the Blackhead Range. It's one of the best views of these three peaks one will get in the Catskills. Not too much further and there is a view north of the surrounding farmland. Keep on hiking to the true summit just a bit further because the best view is found just below the summit. This view also provides views to the north. But it also allows for unobstructed views. There are also some great views to the east. From here one can see the Albany skyline, the City of Hudson and never ending farmland.
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| Blackhead, Black Dome and Thomas Cole |
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| Albany in the distance and Greenville in foreground |
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| Hudson |
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| Restaurant and Route 23 |
Windham makes for a great introduction to the Catskills. The elevation gained is typical of a Catskill high peak, but the trail is friendly and its location is easy to get to. Also there's Cave Mountain Brewery in Windham where you can have the Hudson Valley's Best Burger and a Cluster F#@k IPA.
I liked Windham as a winter hike, maybe because it's not excessively taxing to ascend. A bit far to drive, though. Has the town of Windham recovered from the flooding?
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