
Event Duration: 6 miles, 6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Event Duration: 6 miles, 6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
The Smith Pond Trail is closed until further notice. Due to a construction project that will address drainage issues near Rte. 28, the trailhead to the Smith Pond Trail is being used as a staging area. As soon as the work allows, the trail will be reopened. For those who are working on the CMC Hiking Trails Challenge, the requirement to hike the Smith Pond Trail is temporarily suspended. You may submit applications without hiking this trail. After we announce its reopening, It will be required hiking again for new applicants. Thanks for your cooperation.
April 18, 2021 Usage of the Catskill Park and its facilities has grown tremendously for the past several years. During the pandemic of 2020-21, the growth only increased as folks everywhere turned to the great outdoors for a safe space to seek recreation. As the pandemic winds down, we anticipate a sustained increase in Park visitorship and in use of our trails, other infrastructure and wild places throughout the Catskills.
The rise in usage has resulted in crowded parking lots, illegal roadside parking and an exponential increase in garbage being left behind by park visitors at high use areas like Kaaterskill Falls, Kaaterskill Clove and Colgate Lake. To help mitigate these problems, parking regulations have been expanded and strictly enforced. Dozens of volunteers have been helping park staff and trail stewards clean up after the heavy traffic of weekend visits. Please be responsible and pack out what you pack into these beautiful natural environments.
Another effect of increased usage is seen on the trails themselves. Foot beds are widening far beyond the acceptable width, trampling adjacent plant life and contributing to erosion. Hikers should stay on the trail, avoid walking side-by-side and pass other hikers carefully, yielding where possible and maintaining single file at all times. It is up to us to protect the Catskills wilderness and preserve it for future generations. To do so, it is important that we cooperate in practicing sustainable use that benefits us all.
Always follow Leave No Trace principles when recreating in conserved natural places wherever you go.
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Covid-19 Guidelines: Wear a mask while congregated in the parking lot or at other sites. Hike single file, following social distancing protocols. Avoid carpooling except with members of your household. Use your own pen when signing in, or use hand sanitizer.
Note: As vaccination rates rise, risks decrease. We will phase out these guidelines when rates improve significantly. In the meantime, please protect others and yourself by following these simple, CDC endorsed guidelines.
We will hike Cabot Mountain on the Touch-Me-Not trail section of the Finger Lakes trail in the Western Catskills. This moderate hike at a relaxed pace, will be a traverse of 4.5 miles with a short shuttle. It will end at Little Pond State campground where we will have an after-hike picnic and have an opportunity to rent kayaks on site. You’re also welcome to bring your own boat. Come for just the hike or stay for the whole day. It’s up to you. If you are paddling, a PFD is required. Sorry, bringing your pooch is not practical for this outing.
Event Duration: 4.5 miles, 4 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
This hike starts with a steep climb up Bangle Hill from Peekamoose Rd, gaining over 1100 feet in 1.1 miles. After the initial climb, the remainder of the hike is relatively level, dropping about 600 feet over 6.4 miles to Vernooy Falls, then dropping another 500 feet in the last 1.7 miles. If the weather cooperates we’ll stop for a swim at Vernooy Falls.
Event Duration: 10 miles, 9 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Starting at the suspension bridge over the scenic Beaver Kill, we’ll hike to Mongaup Pond via the Mongaup – Hardenburgh Trail. We’ll return via the Mongaup – Willowemoc and Long Pond Beaver Kill Ridge trails. Along the way, we’ll summit 2 Catskill Hundred Highest mountains: Willowemoc (3220 ft) and Sand Pond (3057 ft).
Event Duration: 18 miles, 12 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Follow Laura Battelani and David Lucas, CMC members, while they inspect trails on the Pakatakan Mountain in Margaretville, NY. It will take approximately 6 hours. Bring water and food. wear sturdy sneakers or boots. dress in layers to accommodate for weather conditions. bring hand tools, gloves, eye protection if you would like to help with clipping, light sawing, weed whacking etc.
Event Duration: 6 miles, 6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
This hike includes 3.3 miles of the Mary Smith trail, and all of the Middle Mountain and Touch-Me-Not Trails, all of them co-aligned with the Finger Lakes Trail. Crossing the eastern and mid-sections of the Pepacton Range, the hike traverses four peaks, including Middle and Cabot Mountains, both just under 3000 feet. With views of Little Pond, Long Pond and Alder Lake, this is a scenic and interesting hike on little traveled trails.
Event Duration: 13 miles, 10 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
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SUNY Delhi students volunteered with the CMC to join in Community Service Day activities in Delhi. Part of the Village of Delhi Bicentennial celebration, the crew worked on maintenance of the Bulldog Trails on Delaware Academy lands. The day’s vols were 4-year veterans of the CMC/SUNY Delhi collaboration. We are so proud to work with these great students on a project that serves the Delhi and Catskills hiking communities.
Enjoy a 3.5 mile loop hike on Bramley Mountain. The hike will go through an abandoned quarry 1.9 miles to the summit which was the site of a fire tower. See the remnants of the fire tower, learn about its history and about the current project to rebuild it. The top of the mountain features wide-open views of the Delaware River Valley and the Western Catskills.
The trail is moderately difficult, and we will be hiking at a leisurely pace. Hike will start at 10:00AM at the Bramley Mountain Trailhead on Glen Burnie Road.
Sign up by May 8th with John Sandman at sandmajm@delhi.edu. Please put Bramley Hike in subject line.
This hike is sponsored by the Delhi Village Bicentennial Committee and by the Catskill Mountain Club. Rain date May 16.
Covid-19 Guidelines: Wear a mask while congregated in the parking lot or at other sites. Hike single file, following social distancing protocols. Avoid carpooling except with members of your household. Use your own pen when signing in, or use hand sanitizer.
Note: As vaccination rates rise, risks decrease. We will phase out these guidelines when rates improve significantly. In the meantime, please protect others and yourself by following these simple, CDC endorsed guidelines.
Meet 8:00 at hike finish in Margaretville: https://goo.gl/maps/HEiNyk3n3h42.
We’ll leave cars there and drive to the DEC parking area on Mill Brook Rd. to start the hike: https://goo.gl/maps/sSwf7RH81L72
This hike is mostly on the Dry Brook Ridge trail, but we’ll take a short, optional, bushwhack detour to the Dry Brook Ridge summit.
Event Duration: 10 miles, 8 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
April 21, 2021 This past year has been a time change for the Delhi Trails. First, a logging operation began that forced the closing of the northern section of the Gribley Trail last fall and was then suspended for winter. It will resume soon. Watch for an announcement of the temporary closing of the trail.
Second, the southern section of the Smith Pond Trail was closed due to the wishes of the private landowner, who had previously permitted it. We are currently working on a rerouting that will include two sections. One section will return to the Smith Pond kiosk on Rt. 28. A spur will connect to the parking lot at the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Hikers will be able to hike a loop and return to either of the parking areas. (Please do not park in the church lot during Sunday services.) Overflow parking is available at the Sheldon Drive parking lot on the north side of Delaware Academy.
Third, later this year we will reroute part of the Gribley Trail so that the hiking trail is not co-aligned with the snowmobile trail. By doing so, we will create a safer and better experience for snowmobilers and for hikers.
Happy Hiking.
An Unacceptable Proposal
While we support all responsible efforts to create alternative means of producing electric energy, those efforts must take into account the effects on communities and on conserved areas that are vital to the ecological health and well being of our planet. The Catskill Park, America’s First Wilderness, is such a place. Established by New York State and protected by the state constitution as “forever wild’, it deserves and must receive the highest degree of protection possible. The Premium Energy project would cause permanent and irreparable harm, and, therefore, it must be rejected.
It is the CMC’s opinion that the proposal is without merit and that FERC should deny the application. We encourage individual citizens; to express their opposition by posting a comment with FERC by using this link: https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx. Comments are due no later than April 12.
For more information, you can read comments by the Town of Olive and from other sources here: https://town.olive.ny.us/news/ferc-proposal-for-the-ashokan-pumped-storage-hydro-facility/
What better way to begin the restart of CMC in-person events than with our Annual Ephemeral Wildflower Hike at Kelly Hollow? This perennial favorite comes when the forests are springing back to life, with budding trees and early wildflowers galore.
This a chance to find and identify the beautiful Spring ephemeral wildflowers which are so named because they appear in early spring when they flower and fruit and then die back, all in a short period before the trees have had a chance to leaf out. Most hikers never see these flowers because they wait for late spring or summer to get into the woods. We will look for Trillium, Spring beauties, Trout Lily, Hepatica, Violets, Squirrel Corn, Dutchman’s Breeches, Jack-In-The-Pulpit and many others. We may also find some early mushrooms and ramps.
Kelly Hollow is one of the most beautiful short trails in the Catskills with rocky streams and waterfalls. It has a combination of coniferous and deciduous forests with a lovely abandoned beaver pond near a lean-to at the top. The trail is an easy to moderate loop of about 4 miles. Bring lunch and/or snacks to have at the lean-to (there is a privy nearby.)
We will continue to follow social distancing protocols, with masks on in the parking lot and optional on the trail. Please maintain safe distancing at all times.
Event Duration: About 3 hours
Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
March 12, 2021 Beginning on March 21st, the first day of spring, the requirements for completing the 4 Seasons 140 and Catskills Grid 420 programs will reflect the closure of Doubletop and Graham Mountains to public access by replacing them with Dry Brook Ridge (3465′) and Mill Brook (Ridge) Mountain (3465′), respectively. Both replacements are only 35′ lower than the official high peaks and are in the same Western Catskills region as Doubletop and Graham. Unlike the trailless peaks they replace, both Mill Brook Mountain and Dry Brook Ridge can be traversed on trails. By adopting them for our program, we have chosen to avoid encouraging increased hiking on other trailless peaks. Our choice also aligns the new requirements with those of the Catskills All Trails Challenge.
After March 20th, hikes to the summit of South Doubletop will no longer qualify for the Catskills 4 Seasons 140 program. In no event should any hiker climb either Doubletop or Graham Mountains as they are on private property and have been closed to the public by the landowner, effective January 14th. Trespassers are subject to prosecution.
February 10, 2021 The NYS DEC has recently opened the Red Hill Fire Tower Trail, a 1.4 mile addition that is combined with an older 0.6 mile section of trail to lead to the fire tower from Denning Road. The remainder of the the old trail from Dinch Road, 0.8 miles from the intersection, has been named the Dinch Road Connector.
Earlier, the DEC incorporated an old snowmobile trail into the Vernooy Kill Falls Trail, increasing its length to 3.5 miles. There is a small trailhead in Greenville in addition to the one on Upper Cherrytown Rd.
December 19. 2020 We’re adding a trail section to the list of required hikes! The Vernooy Kill Falls Trail was extended by DEC to be coaligned with the snowmobile trail that goes from Vernooy Falls to Greenville. The section is about 1.8 miles long and there is a small parking area at the Greenville trailhead. The trail is an easy hike and is marked Red. We will update the documents on the CMC webpage.
January 14. 2021 Please note that both Doubletop and Graham Mountains are now closed to public access effective immediately.
The private landowners have generously allowed public access for many years. They have decided that recent trends of increased usage by hikers are having a significant negative effect on the wilderness character and ecology of these trailless mountains. Due to their long held concerns for conservation of wilderness, they will end access for all members of the public. As of today, hikers who encroach on these private lands will be in violation of laws against trespass and subject to enforcement measures, including arrest.
Our Catskills Grid and Catskills 4 Seasons programs will designate changes to the required peaks in concert with the decisions made by the Catskill 3500 Club for their list of qualifying hikes. Those new designations should be finalized and available in a few weeks. As of today, no future hikes of either Graham or Doubletop will be accepted as qualifying hikes for the CMC’s two programs.
October 6, 2020 The CMC is excited to add three new hiking programs that, when completed, will earn qualifiers a beautiful embroidered patch and a certificate commemorating their achievement.
In honor of opening the sixth trail built by the CMC since 2012, we are founding a new hiking program for hikers who qualify by hiking each of the trails built by the club. (A seventh trail will open in 2021, but hikers are free to apply based on completing each of the existing six.) These trails have been designed to appeal to most hikers, both novice and expert. They are on some of the most beautiful lands in the Catskills, are easy to moderate in difficulty and are located near major highways and villages.
Two of these programs are being adopted by the CMC, which will assume sponsorship of the Catskills 4 Seasons 140 and the Catskills Grid 420 programs from the Rip van Winkle Hikers. After decades of service to the Catskills which included organizing hikes, maintaining trails and working through membership in the Catskill Park Coalition to bring our issues to Albany, the Rips decided to dissolve the club as of the end of 2019. Among their legacies are these two hiking programs that have earned the respect of serious hikers in our regio
n. The CMC is proud to ensure that these programs will continue into the future.
Find out more about these programs, about the Catskills All Tails Challenge and about each of the trails on their pages on the CMC website.
Note: Previous 4 Seasons qualifiers can receive the newly redesigned patch free of charge by contacting the CMC at info@catskillmountainclub.org.
August 8, 2020 The 2nd Edition of the Guide to Catskill Mountain Club Trails has just been published. You can find it at the trailheads, at the Catskills Visitor Center and at several area merchants.
In the Guide you will find maps, descriptions and trailhead locations for all of the trails. Updated information for the Morris Hill Trail, which is still under construction, will be in an upcoming revision.
To view and download the Guide, click this link.
Note: For best results use 11″ x 14″ paper.
July, 3 2020 In keeping with recommendations and requirements intended to keep us all safe during the Covid-19 crisis, the CMC has decided that we will not offer our Annual Picnic nor our Annual Dinner in 2020.
We continue to evaluate the situation as we think about offering outdoor recreational events again. At this time, the resurgence of cases in the country is of great concern. It remains important to recreate locally, to socially distance when in groups and to wear masks when in close contact or when passing unrelated parties. We recommend stepping off trail to allow others to pass. We will continue to monitor developments. Like everyone, we look forward to resuming normal activities as soon as possible.
Be safe.
July 18, 2020 Yesterday we and our partners, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, opened the new trail officially. Also in attendance was a representative from the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program, which supplied a grant to pay for interpretive signage. Unfortunately, in an abundance of caution we were not able to invite the public to the ceremony. While it’s always fun to have a big event, the important thing is that the trail is finished and that you are invited to hike it whenever you can!
The two mile trail begins just off Rte. 28A about 0.2 miles west of the Ashokan Reservoir Promenade. There is a dedicated parking area just 100 feet into the woods. From there follow the blue markers and yellow directional signs. Just before making the turn towards the top of the old Yale Quarry, a source of rock during the construction of the reservoir, pass the ruins of an old stone building that was used to store explosives. There are sweeping views of the Catskills, including four high peaks, from the high, open ledges along the top of the quarry wall. The path is through a mixed forest of hardwoods and pine, with a 200′ foot section passing through dense mountain laurel.
Be sure to check out the remnants of the railroad loading zone on a short spur trail near the southern end of the main loop trail. A large seasonal vernal pool fed by water falling from the quarry walls is an added point of interest in spring. Although It retains water year round, it becomes very low in summer. As you return to the parking lot, pass through an interesting area with large mounds of tailings that line both sides of the trail.
This is an easy hike with about 200 feet of elevation gain.
For more information and to print a map and trail guide visit:
https://catskillmountainclub.org/…/wh…/ashokan-quarry-trail/
Andes Rail Trail Hiking Guide
The ART begins at the restored Andes Train Station. The easy- moderate out and back hike totals four miles. It follows the old rail bed for about 0.8 miles until ending at private property. This scenic section overlooking the Tremperskill Valley is flat and wide with a few short detours provided for use in wet conditions. Along the way are several nice viewpoints, including one over a beaver pond dammed up on the creek by the resident beavers.
From there the trail turns west (right) uphill onto the Bullet Hole Spur, which climbs the slopes of Hemlock Knoll. The trail is moderate in difficulty, with some short but fairly steep ups and downs.
After a short distance, the trail turns north (right) and after about 0.1 miles makes a sharp switchback to begin climbing a steeper section. This section passes some nice rock formations and glacial erratics in a mixed hardwood forest.
The height of land is reached in about 0.2 mile. The trail then begins a descent soon coming to a lovely fern glade. Just past the glade is a stone wall. The trail makes a sharp turn south before coming to a step-up and crossing the wall.
Directly ahead lies a large spruce plantation. The trail continues straight ahead following a row through the trees before coming to nice views of the adjacent field and the hills beyond. At this point it bears slightly right and descends towards a beautiful grove of old hemlocks.
After crossing the ruins of another stone wall the trail again swings right and loops through the hemlocks. The Bullet Hole Creek (on private land) can be heard and glimpsed to the left side of the trail.
As you walk through the hemlock forest pay careful attention to the markers. You will come to a place where the trail turns north (right). Going straight enters private lands. The trail soon crosses a largely flattened stone wall before reclimbing the hill through the spruce trees and returning to the step-up stone wall crossing. From this point retrace your steps back to the parking lot.
The Spring edition of the CMC News is available here. Check it out for stories about Earth Day, news about the Club and about recreational opportunities in the Catskills region. Learn more about where to hike during the pandemic, about the signs of spring in nature and learn about a yoga exercise that will help you be a better hiker.
Find out what you need to know about current hiking conditions in the Catskills during the pandemic, tips for hiking safely at this time and more stories about the Catskills. Click here to view the newsletter.
Photo courtesy of Bill Palmer, Palmer Hill Photography.
February 2020
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We’ll hike about 10 miles, over 3 Catskills high peaks: Doubletop (3874′), Graham (3868′), and Balsam Lake (3729′), with a total ascent of about 3300′. Our route includes easy trails, and both easy and challenging bushwhacks.
Event Duration: 10 miles, 10 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult; bushwhack
We’ll hike Panther via Giant Ledge out and back from the Rt. 47 hairpin. With its spectacular views, Giant Ledge is one of the top destinations in the Catskills and will be far less crowded during winter.
Event Duration: 7 miles, 6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
This (mostly) bushwhack will summit 2 Catskill peaks: North Dome (3605′) and Sherrill (3558′). This is the perfect time of year to hike these trailless peaks. There’s a great southerly view from the ledges on North Dome.
Event Duration: 6 miles, 6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult; bushwhack
This (mostly) trail hike will summit 3 Catskills peaks: Westkill (3898′), SW Hunter (3753′), and Hunter (4030′), the Catskills second highest upon which sits the highest fire tower in New York.
Event Duration: 15 miles, 12 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
We’ll hike the Burroughs Range, summiting Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slide. With lots of great views along the way, the one from Wittenberg is one of the nicest in the Catskills. Expect lots of ups and downs as we climb three of the high peaks, including the tallest in the Catskills.
Event Duration: 10 miles, 10 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
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Frick Pond is a lovely winter snowshoe in Sullivan County in the Catskills.
Woods are varied in flora and have lovely views. Elevation gain small. Distance will depend on snowfall amounts and wind which will determine inner or outer loop hike selection.
DRESS WARM and bring fluids and snacks.
Level of Difficulty: Easy
We’ll hike Westkill from the last parking area on Spruceton Rd. The out and back will visit Diamond Notch Falls and Buck Ridge Lookout along the way to Westkill’s 3898′ summit.
Event Duration: 6.8 miles, 6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
January 21, 2020 The newly formed Friends of the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower group held its first meeting on the evening of January 6th at the O’Connor Hospital in Delhi. The Friends were formed to organize the reconstruction of the fire tower that was decommissioned by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in 1970 and removed in 1975. The tower was purchased by Pete Clark, who meticulously stored the tower’s parts right down to the nuts and bolts in his barn. It is well preserved as a result. Three years ago Tom Clark, the current owner, approached the Catskill Mountain Club with an offer to allow the tower to be restored if the CMC could lead the effort. With the formation of the Friends group, the effort to raise funds and complete the resurrection of the tower has officially begun.
In 2008 the NYC Department of Environmental Protection acquired the Bramley Mountain parcel and in 2016 the DEP allowed the Catskill Mountain Club to build a trail to the summit. The trail has been very popular with the public, drawing over 1500 hikers a year, some of them from as far away as Europe and Africa. Now, with the support and cooperation of the Town of Delhi and of the DEP as well as widespread support in Bovina, Hamden, Kortright, Andes and other local communities, the CMC has formed the Friends of the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower to move the project to completion.
For more information, to donate to the Friends, to volunteer and to sign up for the email contact list click here.
We’ll hike/snowshoe Vly and Bearpen in the morning, eat lunch, and then hike/snowshoe Halcott in the afternoon
Event Duration: 12 miles, 10 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
We’ll hike/snowshoe to Kaaterskill High Peak (Ascent 1700′, Elevation 3652′). Our route will include trails, easy bushwhacks with opportunity to practice compass skills, fun scrambles, spectacular views and 2 plane crash sites.
Event Duration: 6 miles, 6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult, Bushwhack
We’ll hike/snowshoe four Catskill High Peaks: Windham, Blackhead, Black Dome, and Thomas Cole. This long, difficult trail hike will reward us with several fantastic views. Total ascent will be about 4700′.
Event Duration: 14 miles, 12 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
We’ll hike/snowshoe four Catskill High Peaks: Windham, Blackhead, Black Dome, and Thomas Cole. This long, difficult trail hike will reward us with several fantastic views. Total ascent will be about 4700′.
Event Duration: 14 miles, 12 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Here’s another chance to hike/snowshoe 4 Catskills peaks, Plateau (3835′), Sugarloaf (3783′), Twin(3650′), and Indian Head (3573′) with challenging scrambles and fantastic views.
Event Duration: 10 miles; 10 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
We’ll hike/snowshoe 4 Catskills peaks, Plateau (3835′), Sugarloaf (3783′), Twin(3650′), and Indian Head (3573′) with challenging scrambles and fantastic views.
Event Duration: 10 miles; 10 hours
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
We’re happy to announce a soft opening First Hike on the new Ashokan Quarry Trail to introduce you to it! Afterwards, the trail will be open to the public for hiking according to NYCDEP regulations. (You can find those in our Skills and Info menu.) In Spring the DEP and CMC will welcome the public with an official opening ceremony.
The AQT is located on the Acorn Hill Parcel in Olivebridge. The quarry was one of several used in the construction of the Ashokan Reservoir. Interpretive signage has been installed along the route.
Only two miles long and with an easy climb to the rim of the quarry, the AQT offers an easy hike with historic interest and fabulous views stretching from Ashokan High Point to North Dome and Ticeteneyck Mountains. Features include abandoned infrastructure, the long quarry, a lovely mountain laurel path, and a mixed hardwood and white pine forest.
The trail is located 0.2 miles west of the Promenade parking lot which provides access to the dam and its fabulous views over the reservoir. Located south of the reservoir, the AQT will eventually be linked to the new Ashokan Rail Trail via the Promenade.
There is a parking lot at the trailhead, just off Rte. 28A. When full, please use the promenade lot.
Event Duration: 2 miles, 2 hours
Level of Difficulty: Easy