Past Events

Hike the Huntersfield Creek Falls Trail – Saturday, 2/18/23 9:00 AM

Hike the Huntersfield Creek Falls Trail – Saturday, February 18, 9:00 AM

Join Peter Manning, CMC Executive Director; Michelle Yost, Watershed Coordinator, Greene Co. SWCD; and Robert Titus, Geologist for a short hike on the Huntersfield Creek Falls Trail (HCFT) in Prattsville. Discussion will include how the trail was created, watershed protection partnerships, Catskills geology, connecting hamlets and trails, and the status of efforts to restore of Pratt Rock.

This two-mile hike is rated easy to moderate and is expected to take 1.5 – 2 hours. Participants must bring any food or water they need, as well as (depending on the weather) winter gear, including microspikes or hiking crampons and/ or snowshoes. (See directions below.) To register, email Peter@catskillmountainclub.org by 6PM Friday February 17.

Event Duration: 2 miles, 1.5 – 2 hours
Level of Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
Leader(s): Peter Manning, CMC; Michelle Yost, GCSWCD
Bring: Water, lunch/snacks, sturdy hiking boots, hiking crampons, snowshoes (as applicable)
Registration required by 6PM 2/17/23 . Register by contacting the leader: Peter@catskillmountainclub.org
Dogs allowed: No
Additional Information: Rain/snow date: TBD

Driving and Meeting Directions: Prattsville is located on State Route 23, 14 miles west of Windham and 5 miles east of Grand Gorge (connects with State Rte. 30). From State Route 23A Prattsville is 18 miles west of Hunter (connects with State Rte. 214). On-street parking is available along Main Street (Route 23) in Prattsville. The meeting and starting point of the hike is the HCFT trailhead, located one-quarter mile east of the Great American market on the same side Main Street. Walk along the sidewalk to its end point.

GPS coordinates: 42.311911, -74.427813

First Day Hike to Kelly Hollow – Sunday 1/1/2022 10:00 AM

First Day Hike to Kelly Hollow – Sunday 1/1/2022 10:00 AM

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.) Continue reading

First Day Hike on Biscuit Brook Trail – Sunday 1/1/2023 9AM

First Day Hike on Biscuit Brook Trail – Sunday 1/1/2023 9AM

Biscuit Brook trail aka Pine HIll-West Branch trail (Blue) Trail begins on north side of County Rt.47 (From Kingston it takes 1hr. to the trailhead. Take Rte 28 West to Big Indian, turn Left on Rt.47 for 12.5 mls.) In 2 mls we reach the Lean-to on the left, moderate. continue for 2.5 mls. to the high point of trail near summit. moderate to difficult. Continue reading

First Day Hike to Panther Mountain – Sunday 1/1/23 9AM

Join Peter Manning for a 6.5-mile out-and-back hike to the summit of Panther Mountain. In cooperation with NYSDEC’s First Day Hikes, this outing  is rated moderate to difficult and is expected to take 4-5 hours. The route has 1725’ of elevation gain with rocky terrain. Participants must bring food, water, and winter gear, including hiking crampons and snowshoes. (See directions below.) To register, email Peter@catskillmountainclub.org by 6PM Friday December, 30. Continue reading

Overlook Mountain | Saturday, 11/26/2022, 9:30 AM

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

Overlook Mountain | Saturday, 11/26/2022, 9:30 AM

This is about a 6.5-mile hike from the Meads Meadow Trailhead, using the Overlook Mountain connector to the yellow, then blue to the main Overlook Mountain trail. From there, the trail climbs steadily to the top of Overlook Mountain following an old gravel road to ruins of an old hotel that once transported guests in the late 19th century to the Overlook Mountain House. There are great views from the cliffs on Overlook of the Hudson Valley and the Catskill High Peaks as well as from the top of the fire tower. We’ll break for lunch at another viewpoint where it’s lesser known. Continue reading

Panther via Fox Hollow, Sunday, 8/14/2022, 8:30am

Panther via Fox Hollow, Sunday, 8/14/2022, 8:30am

This is a 9-mile out and back hike to the summit of Panther (3,720 ft.). I’d done Panther 8 times from the very popular route, from Route 47, but I’ve never summitted Panther from this direction. The trail isn’t very well used, is longer, and the route is strenuous even for experienced hikers. We’ll follow the Giant Ledge – Panther trail (blue) where the trail ascends gradually with a few rock scrambles that do keep things interesting. We’ll approach several false peaks before we’ll arrive at the actual summit of Panther. We’ll break for lunch after the summit of Panther, retracing our steps to a viewpoint about 5 minutes away. 

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Trail Maintenance on the Dry Brook Ridge and German Hollow Trails | Saturday, May 21, 2022 @10AM

Follow Laura Battelani, CMC Board Member and David Lucas, volunteers for NY/NJ Trail Conference as they maintain their adopted trails. Join us on our Spring Trail Maintenance Hike on Dry Brook Ridge in Margaretville New York. We will drive to the Hill St. trail and climb approximately 1500 feet in a moderate climb and do light work clearing the trail and making sure things are tidy on Dry Brook Ridge. We’ll hike Pakatakan Mountain and follow the ridge, passing by a 700 years old bog, to arrive to a beautiful lookout of the Pepacton Reservoir from almost 3500 ft. of altitude. We will relax and have mid-day lunch at the overlook, with beautiful western views of the Western Catskills.
In the afternoon, we will return on the German Hollow Trail, maintaining along the way. Pack lots of water and your lunch and snacks. Wear comfortable layers. Bring a hat and bug spray and rain gear if weather is changeable.
Wear sturdy hiking boots/shoes. If you also want to help with the cleaning of the trail, bring hand tools, clippers, loppers and foldable saws if you have them and gloves and eye protection.

Event Duration:  6 miles, 6 hours

Level of Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

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Cycle the Catskill Scenic Trail on Earth Day, April 22, 9:00 AM

Cycle the Catskill Scenic Trail on Earth Day, April 22, 9:00 AM

Take a round trip ride, from Bloomville to Stamford (and back) along the former Ulster & Delaware Railroad corridor as it follows the West Branch of the Delaware River. This is a 25-mile ride along an unpaved surface and is rated Moderate – Difficult. Mountain bikes are strongly encouraged, although hybrid bicycles are also acceptable. Please, no road bikes. The ride begins in Bloomville at the Catskill Scenic Trail’s westernmost access point. Marked with a sign, the parking area is on south side of State Route 10 just north of the intersection with River Road. We will begin at 9:00 AM and break for lunch at Stamford.

Event Duration:  25 miles, 3-4 Hours

Level of Difficulty:  Moderate-Difficult Continue reading

Spring Ephemeral Walk | May 7th, 2022 — Sorry, registration is closed, this event is full

Spring Ephemeral Walk – Saturday, May 7th, 2022 – 11 AM

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

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Cycle along the Pepacton Reservoir | Saturday, May 14, 2022 @ 9 AM Postponed – Date TBD

Cycle along the Pepacton Reservoir

Enjoy a round-trip ride of 29 miles from Arkville to Shavertown Bridge (Route 30 crossing of the Pepacton) and back. This is a road bicycle ride and is rated Moderate – Difficult. Please, no mountain or hybrid bikes. The ride begins at the Catskill Recreation Center in Arkville, on the Arkville Cross Road (Co. Hwy. 38). We will begin at 9:00 AM and break at Shavertown, as needed.

Event Duration:  29 miles, 2.5 – 3.5 Hours

Level of Difficulty:  Moderate-Difficult Continue reading