There's an old saying, "you know when you've reached the Catskills when there are two rocks for every dirt." Compared to the rest of the Hudson Valley this is absolutely true. Although the Catskills do not have the cliffs of the Gunks it has the feel of being quite a bit more rugged. The Catskills are half mountains, with the eastern portion steep and rocky, where as the western approaches have friendly grades.
If using Catskill Park as a boundary, the Catskill Mountains form a region of over 700,000 acres with about 40% of that land owned by New York State. Although the heart of the Catskills are found in Ulster and Greene Counties, part of Catskill Park reaches into Delaware and Sullivan Counties. Parts of Schoharie and Albany Counties consider themselves the Catskill region.
To give some idea of their height, there are 35 peaks over 3500 feet. There is a peakbagging club called the Catskill 3500 Club which rewards membership for those who climb all 35 summits. The club also leads hikes in the region and helps maintain trails.
The Catskills can be divided geographically numerous ways. Here they will be divided into three ways: (1) East, (2) South and Central, and (3) North and West.
The Eastern section with consist of walks that are mostly within a half hour driving distance from Kingston. Also, most of the points of interest here are visible from the Hudson River. The North and West section are walks mostly found in Greene County, with some found in Delaware, Schoharie and Albany Counties. The South and Central walks are mostly found in Ulster County, with a few in Delaware and Sullivan Counties.
There are also two sections devoted to caving and 3500 club peaks which can be found in these areas.
Eastern Catskills
The Eastern Catskills have an abundance of great Catskill hikes. All of these are located within a half hour's drive of a Thruway exit (Kingston, Saugerties or Catskill), with Saugerties having the closest proximity to most found here.
Overlook's perch is almost 3,000 feet above the village of Woodstock. An ascent of a little more than 1,000 feet along 2.5 miles of an old dirt maintenance road leads you to some of the best views the Catskills have to offer.
One of America's great long distance day hikes (The Devil's Path) meanders its way here. Do a small stretch of it on Indian Head or Twin, two of the region's better hikes.
If you love waterfalls like I do, it'd be hard to top this area. The Plattekill and the Kaaterskill are home to some of New York State's most picturesque waterfalls. The walk along the Plattekill is trailless and can provide some real exposure along with a solid bit of scrambling. A great deal of experience is necessary. Kaaterskill Falls, on the other hand, is reached by a short half mile walk from Route 23A. It's two falls drop further than any in New York State.
Overlook Mountain Kaaterskill Falls (Before Hurricane Irene)
Overlook Mt Fire Tower Kaaterskill Falls (Fall 2013)
Plattekill Falls A Frozen Kaaterskill Falls
Fawn's Leap Kaaterskill Falls (Morton Memorial Hike)
Overlook Kaaterskill Falls
Overlook (In the snow) Fawn's Leap and Kaaterskill Falls
Overlook (Full Moon) Fawn's Leap Winter
Overlook (Sunset/Moonrise) The Plattekil (Winter 2014)
The Plattekill (The Original Edition featuring The MC & Johnny Rocket)
The Plattekill (VPo Man Edition) The Plattekill (Cliff Jumping)
North Lake The Plattekill (Early Fall)
Rip Van Winkle Trail (Hurricane Irene) The Plattekill (Late Fall)
Inspiration Point The Plattekill (September 2013)
Indian Head, Twin and Sugarloaf (3500 Club Peaks)
Platte Clove Run 2012 Plattekill Falls (Winter)
High Rock Run to Indian Chair
Palenville Overlook
Poet's Ledge
Overlook and Echo Lake
Escarpment Trail (Fall 2010)
Escarpment Run 2013
North and West Catskills:
Most of these hikes can be found in Greene County, but a few are found in Albany, Schoharie and Delaware Counties. Many highlights include the Blackhead Range, Mt Utsayuntha, Pratt's Rocks and Vroman's Nose. Clarksville Cave and Knox Cave are also found here.
Devil's Path (3500 Club Peaks) Stony Clove Falls
Mt Utsayuntha Black Dome
Pratt's Rock Rusk Mountain
Windham High Peak (Winter) Black Head
Windham High Peak (3500 Club Peak)
Bearpen (3500 Club Peak)
Hunter Mountain (3500 Club Peak)
Black Dome (3500 Club Peak)
Colgate Lake
Huntersfield
Richmond Mt (Mt Pisgah State Forest)
Vroman's Nose
Thatcher State Park
Ice Climbing
South and Central Catskills:
This region is littered with some of the Catskills classic hikes. This may also be the least accessible region. Most hikes are located off Route 28, with some closer to others.
If I were to guess, which mountain is the favorite of 3500 Club members, I would not be going out on a limb and saying Wittenberg. A tough 4 mile ascent leads to some excellent views of the Ashokan Resevoir, the Hudson Valley and the Devil's Path Peaks. If this doesn't do, try the whole range of Slide (highest point in the Catskills), Cornell, and Wittenberg. This can be done as a point to point (spotting two cars) or as a loop.
Most of the Catskill Fire Towers can be found in this region: Balsam Lake, Red Hill and Tremper. Tremper is by far the most accessible, located near Phoenecia.
Slide, Cornell, Wittenberg (3500 Club Peaks)
Giant Ledge and Panther (3500 Club Peak)
Tremper Mt Fire Tower
Peekamoose and Table (3500 Club Peaks)
Balsam Lake and Graham (3500 Club Peaks)
Red Hill
Neversink River Unique Area
Wildcat
Caving:
Knox Cave
Clarksville Cave
Clarksville Cave (1st Time Caving)
Catskill 3500
Indian Head Plateau
Kaaterskill High Peak
Black Head Black Dome Thomas Cole Windham High Peak
Rusk Mountain Westkill
Peekamoose
Balsam Lake Graham
Can you tell me exact location is ...from where you shot the Blackhead Range in photo underneath header North and West Catskills. I would appreciate it. /Brandt
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