Ashokan Quarry Trail Opens to the Public

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/

Announcing the Formation of the Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower

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.

Delhi Town Council Supports the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower Project

July 30 2019   The Catskill Mountain Club is happy to announce that the Town of Delhi has passed a resolution in support of the CMC's efforts to restore the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower to its former home on the mountain's summit, overlooking vast areas of the Catskills. The tower, originally raised in 1950, was decommissioned and then removed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in 1975. At that time, the Clark family of Delhi bought the tower, removed it, and has stored it in a barn since then, well protected from the elements. We are grateful to the Clarks for their generous offer to lease the tower to the Town for $1 so it can be placed on the summit again. This is an exciting development that will provide a great new recreational destination in the western Catskills and benefit the communities of Delhi and Bovina with the business of the many hikers who will visit the tower.Bramley Mountain is the site of the well-loved Bramley Mountain Trail, built by the CMC in partnership with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and opened to the public in 2016. Currently, the trail attracts over 1500 hikers a year. The CMC estimates that visitorship will more than double when the fire tower opens.The CMC looks forward to working with the NYCDEP, the NYSDEC and the Town of Delhi to finalize the agreements needed to proceed and then begin the task of raising the necessary funds for the project.The CMC is dedicated to improving access to outdoor recreation in the Catskill region. We believe that the communities we serve, including outdoor recreation enthusiasts and the local towns and villages that host public recreational lands, benefit from the presence of conserved lands and waters in many ways, including improved personal happiness, physical health and more robust local economies.Many Catskills residents have spoken enthusiastically in support of the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower Project.  Tom Clark, a Delhi resident and owner of the fire tower said,  “As a child I have fond memories of climbing to the top of Bramley Mountain, going to the fire tower and looking out over the surrounding mountains and valleys. It is my hope, that the once tower again stands on Bramley Mt., that children and others can make the great memories of it that I have been privileged to have.”Matt Krzyston, a member of the  Delhi Town Council and an early supporter of the project said,  "I am grateful for the CMC and their contributions to the Town of Delhi. Their volunteer efforts are a rare and beautiful thing. Their hiking trails have been a perfect addition to our community. The fire tower will be a crowning jewel."Ray Pucci, President of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce commented,  “The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce applauds the start of this collaborative relationship between the Town of Delhi and the Catskill Mountain Club.  Restoring such unique attractions as fire towers create more reasons for visitors to choose Delaware County as a destination."Hope Knapp, President of the Greater Delhi Area Chamber of Commerce, had this to say,  "We at the Greater Delhi Area Chamber of Commerce are extremely happy that the fire tower on Bramley Mountain has been approved. We look forward to the start of this project. The fire tower will be an amazing attraction to Delhi and will have a positive effect on our community and small businesses."Also in support was Laurie Rankin, Director of the NYS Chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association.  “I was very pleased to hear of the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement so that the CMC can move forward with their efforts to return the original Bramley Mountain Fire Tower to its home. The nearby Catskill Fire Tower Project has been in existence for over 20 years and contributed greatly to not only a hikers experience and education, but also to the local economy.”Reflected Rick Roberts, President of the Catskill Mountain Club,  “I, too, remember climbing to the top of Bramley Mountain as a kid and visiting the tower. I was in wonder as to just how the builders got it up the mountain. With luck, I hope to be around to witness its re-erection and to see just how those workers achieved that original build.  I also look forward to seeing how the local public responds to the restoration of this historic structure.”  

News about the CMC in the Oneonta Daily Star

The CMC was featured in the Oneonta Daily Star recently.  We are grateful for the recognition of our work on behalf of outdoors enthusiasts and of the communities of the Catskills that benefit from the great recreational assets of our region.

Oneonta Daily Star

Go take a hike

Catskill Mountain Club's trails encourage folks to get outdoors

• By Allison Collins Contributing Writer

Jul 19, 2019

Photo contributed by the CMC - The Pepacton Reservoir as seen from the  Shavertown Trail.

Since 2012, members of the Catskill Mountain Club, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004, have been designing, building and maintaining user-friendly, close-to-home hiking trails throughout the Catskill region.CMC Executive Director and Margaretville resident Wendell George said the roughly 250-member group is working on building its sixth trail with plans for a seventh next year. The Shavertown Trail, the club’s first build and first collaboration with the New York City Department for Environmental Protection, opened in 2012 in Andes. The group has created about 20 miles of trails.According to catskillmountainclub.org, the Shavertown Trail “offers families and novice hikers … a spectacular view after only 1 moderately strenuous mile.” Trail features include a “lovely pond” and view of the Pepacton Reservoir, with a round-trip distance of about 2 miles.The site says the CMC’s Palmer Hill Trail, its third construction and second DEP partnership, promises “spectacular views for most of its 3.7-mile length.” The Palmer Hill Trail crosses meadows, Bryant’s Brook, historic stone walls and farmhouse foundations, but has a trailhead two miles from Andes and nine from Margaretville, with parking available at the Finkle Road scenic overlook.The approximately 4-mile Bramley Mountain Trail, on DEP property in the towns of Delhi and Bovina, takes hikers to a 2,817-foot summit with views of the mountain’s former fire tower, an abandoned bluestone quarry, caves and peaks of the western Pepacton Range. The trailhead is on Glen Burnie Road in Delhi.The club’s trail building, George said, epitomizes its mission to make outdoor exploration accessible.“We’re trying to offer the general public the opportunity to discover outdoor recreation in the Catskills that is not motorized,” he said. “We want to introduce people to what the Catskills have to offer, so we’ve built these five trails. It takes a season to build a trail; typically, we’re able to get them open by July, but we would’ve started working on them the previous fall.“We’ve generally put trails close to communities, like we did in Andes and Delhi, and next year’s trail will be in Arkville,” George said. “Part of the reason for building the trails closer to communities was to make it easier for people to go hiking. If you have to get in the car and drive 40 minutes to a trailhead, it limits the opportunity to do it. But if there’s a trail right in your hamlet like there is in Andes … or this trail we’re going to build in Arkville, people have a much greater opportunity to go out and hike.”The soon-to-come Arkville-area trail, he said, will likely open in September because of lengthy research required for interpretive signage.“The trails that we’ve built are more introductory-type trails,” CMC board member and Andes resident Anne Roberti said. “That was our focus. There are a lot of trails in the Catskills more suited to strenuous hikers — 35 mountains over 3,500 feet — but there weren’t a lot near towns that were not so hard. We envisioned trails that people could bring small children to or older adults that aren’t up to walking straight up a mountain.”During the design and building phases, George and Roberti said, planners also focus on how to keep hikers engaged.“Going out and laying a trail, there are certain guidelines you want to follow so that it’s not too steep, you minimize erosion and give people a scenic route,” George said. “So we explore around to find the most interesting features — whether that’s rock outcroppings, quarries or waterfalls — and design a trail that visits those kinds of places.”“When the DEP is involved, it can take a little bit longer because they have to issue permits, but the thing that takes the longest is actually laying out the trail,” Roberti said. “We visit numerous times to get a sense of where the best place is. We want to make it sustainable so that there’s no erosion, (ensure) it’s easy enough to walk on and maintain and that it passes interesting things. That’s a big part of what we’re doing when laying it out — looking for what’s fun to see.”The club’s work to facilitate such forest forays, members said, has been met with enthusiasm.“It takes a while to get your message out there and get known, but we have a lot of support,” George said. “Over 8,500 people last year hiked on trails we’ve built … and just this past year we’ve established a relationship with SUNY Delhi. We have a crew of students that take care of the Bramley Mountain Trail and we’re looking to expand that relationship, so we’re definitely in a period of growth and change.”“People love them,” Roberti said. “Some people hike these trails every single day. When I’m out working on them and see people using them, it makes me feel great. It warms my heart to see them making such good use of it and … when people use the outdoors, they’ll protect it more and that’s important.”As an extension of its mission, George said, the group introduced the “Catskills All-Trails Challenge” four years ago.“We started a program to hike all the designated hiking trails in Catskill Park, which is 347 miles, and that’s really starting to catch on,” he said. “We started a Facebook group for it just a couple of months ago and it’s got 380 members, so there are a lot of folks out there that like this idea.”“There are lots of places in the park and Delaware and Sullivan counties … with a lot of trails that simply don’t see a lot of use,” he continued, so this (challenge) is a way to encourage people to explore the park, learn more about it and spread that use around.”A commitment to trail building, George said, goes beyond construction.“Maintenance is a huge part of our program,” George said. “Going out and maintaining these trails, that’s the long-term thing. We have crews of people who do it, but recently we’ve been looking for people willing to adopt specific trails and take care of those on their own, because we’re getting to a place where there’s a lot of work to do.”“We go out twice a year, usually in spring and late summer, and cut trees that have blown down or tall grasses and blackberry bushes that have grown into the trail,” Roberti said. “We also put up trail markers if they’ve gone missing during the winter. We’re always looking for additional volunteers.”The pros of opening and maintaining trails, George and Roberti said, are many and worthy.“We realized that there was a big economic benefit to a community when there are trails close to town,” Roberti said. “You get people coming to stay or have lunch that day.”“We live in this place and we want these lands to be protected for the health of the planet and our own health,” George said, “but we also recognize that the people here need to make a living. When people come up here … you’re attracting people that go to restaurants and stay in bed and breakfasts, so there’s a benefit to the economy.”“The benefits to public health are really tremendous,” he said. “And not just physical health; we’ve all known for years that we should do more physical activities, but the benefits to mental health when people get out and in nature are also tremendous. That is widely recognized as being an important way of helping people cope with the stress of life, so that’s important to us.”

The Catskills All Trails Challenge Gets a Facebook Group

April 24, 2019    With the growing interest in the Catskills All Trails Challenge (CATC), we have created a Facebook group dedicated to the folks who are hiking the Challenge. The page gives you a place to connect with one another, share information and advice about the trails, ask questions, make plans, share routes, find hiking and carpooling partners and post pictures and descriptions of your adventures on the trails of the Catskill Park.Anyone who has hiked or is interested in hiking the All Trails Challenge is welcome to join the group.  You'll need a Facebook account to join.  Simply go to the following link and ask to join. Catskills All Trails Challenge on Facebook.We welcome all hikers who share our values of good stewardship of the Catskill Park. We endorse Leave No Trace principles and compliance with the rules and regulations written by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in order to protect the Catskill Forest Preserve, which was created to protect these lands as "Forever Wild" by an Amendment to the New York State Constitution.  These regulations include limited hiking group sizes, with a legal limit of 20 without a special permit.  We suggest a limit of 12 to limit impacts on sensitive and endangered plant communities, and to preserve the quality of the wilderness experience.  For more, visit our page Recreational Use Regulations for the Catskill Park Forest Preserve.

Catskill Park Day | Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Two weeks from tomorrow on Tuesday, February 5th the CMC and our many partners in the Catskill Park Coalition will head up to Albany on Catskill Park Day. Our purpose is to talk to legislators, the governor and officials at the DEC about the recreational needs of our region, including stewardship of the Catskill Park, aid to our communities, protection of our environment, conservation and many other things that impact on the health and quality of our area's great outdoor spaces.Click here for a summary of our goals and how you can help advance them, even if you can't go to Albany. Find the contact info for your legislators and for the Governor and give them a call or write a letter supporting our requests. And please join us on February 5th as we make our case to our state's leaders. Thanks in advance for helping to protect and improve the Catskill Park!For more info, contact us at wendell@catskillmountianclub.org.Register to go, get contact info and find a sample letter here.Follow on Facebook here.

Download a copy here:

Final+2019+Catskill+Park+Coalition+Priorities

Regular Big Game Hunting Season Begins Soon - Hike Safely at These No Hunting Locations

Note:  For an updated post see here.November 15, 2018   Beginning November 17th and lasting through December 9th, the popular regular deer and bear hunting season means that everyone who goes into the woods in the Catskills needs to be aware, be alert and ALWAYS BE DRESSED IN ORANGE (dogs included). Whether you are on forest preserve, state forest or NYCDEP lands, the three week period during which hunters are permitted to use rifles is a time for added care.Alternatives where hunting is not permitted do exist. Most are not within the Catskills proper, but all are close enough to make a day trip practical. It is advisable to wear orange even when hiking on these trails. The added precaution affords peace of mind.Listed below are 16 great places to get outdoors where hunting is not permitted. We suggest that you consider exploring new territory or revisiting your favorites. Happy Trails!Andes Rail Trail/Bullet Hole Spur (in Andes)
Bear Mountain State Park (near West Point)Black Creek Preserve (near Esopus)
Delhi Trails (in Delhi)
Ferncliff Forest & Fire Tower (Rhinebeck)Harriman State Park (near Harriman)
High Banks Preserve (near Ulster Park)Highland Lakes State Park (near Middletown)Mills-Norrie State Park (near Staatsburg)Minnewaska State Park Preserve* (near New Paltz)Riddell State Park (near Laurens/Oneonta)
Thacher State Park** (near Voorheesville)
The Willows at Brandow's Point (Athens)
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail (Kingston to Gardiner)
Walkway Over the Hudson & 
Franny Reese State Park (can be combined) (Poughkeepsie/Highland)The North-South Lake Day Use Area is one place in the Catskill Park where hunting is not permitted. Be aware that the area does not include Kaaterskill Falls or the Escarpment Trail to the south of the intensive use area. It does extend on all trails north to Badman Cave.*No bear season. For deer seasons, no hunting in the vicinity of hiking trails – check map here: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/attachments/Minnewaska2017HuntingMapMinnewaska.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0c-LusE0CwKNafcBrJidoc2K73nagbtsEll1HXmv4a3iyKKLo-aSllsJY**hunting allowed in a some areas. See map for details: https://parks.ny.gov/…/ThacherThacherStateParkHuntingMap.pdf

The First Annual CMC Picnic was a Perfect Way to Spent a Beautiful Summer's Day!

We had a great day for the first Annual CMC Picnic yesterday. The weather quickly warmed up and the skies stayed sunny for most of the day, making for a great day to swim or just sit at the beach. We all agreed that Belleayre Beach was a perfect place to get together. The grounds are beautiful, the facilities well kept and the lake and surrounding mountains are a great setting. We had some good corn hole and bocce ball matches, and a great hike at Rochester Hollow to begin the day. With Rick Roberts, CMC president, at the grill, the burgers and hotdogs were excellent eating with lots of great homemade side dishes and plenty of desserts to top it all off.

With great company, it was a nice way to spend a summer's day. We hope to see many more of you at next year's festivities!

Accessible Outdoor Recreation Destinations in and around the Catskills

Most of us take for granted the almost endless opportunities we have to get out into the great outdoors. Whether we're hitting the trail, casting for trout, paddling, or going rogue by 'whacking our way into the unknown, we know well how important that chance to connect with nature is. And we appreciate it deeply.For some of us, getting that feeling isn't so easy. Our friends and family members who have limited mobility need and deserve resources that can accommodate them so they can get out and experience that connection with nature, too. The Americans with Disabilities Act has encouraged the development of infrastructure to make getting out easier. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, other governmental agencies and even some non-governmental organizations have accessible facilities all around the Catskills, including trails, fishing areas, water access points, picnic pads, camping pads, pavilions and restrooms. Recent improvements have been completed at Kenneth Wilson Campground, a DEC facility in the Town of Woodstock and the DEC has filed notice for comments on a plan to improve and add to the accessible facilities at the North-South Lake Campground near Haines Falls. Accessible attractions also include iconic spots like Kaaterskill Falls and the Ashokan Reservoir Promenade. For travelers, easy to get to trails and other amenities can be found at the Catskill Interpretive Center in Mt. Tremper.Here are links to pages that list where many of these facilities are located.NYSDEC Accessible Recreation Destinations listed by county.Accessible Catskills Hiking, Camping and OutdoorsNYS Parks – search by the park name or location and look for the "Amenities and Activities" section.Ashokan Rail Trail

Boot-brush Unveiling and Hike at the Shavertown Trail | Friday, July 13, 10:30 AM

DEP TO UNVEIL BOOT BRUSH STATION AND HOST COMMUNITY HIKE AT SHAVERTOWN TRAIL IN DELAWARE COUNTY

Boot brush, designed to combat invasive species, is among the first in the Catskills

DEP will also co-host community hike at Shavertown on July 13 with Catskill Mountain Club

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will co-host a community hike and unveil its new boot-brush station at the Shavertown Trail near Pepacton Reservoir on July 13. The event, which is free and open to all, will begin at 10:30 a.m. The Catskill Mountain Club and DEP will lead the hike, which will take participants along a new section of the trail that was recently constructed by volunteers. The event will begin at the trailhead on County Route 1 in Andes, just north of its intersection with Route 30. DEP this month installed a boot-brush station at the trailhead to help minimize the spread of invasive species. The station is among the first of its kind in the Catskills. It includes a mounted brush on which hikers can clean their boots, information to help identify several invasive species that are approaching the region, and a gravel pad that is intended to trap any seeds that might get brushed off. The boot-brush station will help prevent the spread of many types of invasive species, especially invasive plants such as bittersweet and barberry. Invasive plants cannot move far on their own. Even wind-dispersed seeds generally do not blow too far. Most new infestations are started by people who unintentionally move the seeds through recreational activities such as hiking, hunting or fishing. That’s why boot-brush stations are becoming more common throughout New York, especially in the northern and western parts of the state where outdoor recreation is popular. DEP will unveil the new brush station by co-hosting a hike with the nonprofit Catskill Mountain Club (CMC). The hike will be just more than 2 miles. It will take participants along a recently finished portion of the Shavertown Trail that was built by CMC volunteers. The new section runs about two-thirds of a mile through the woods, winding its way around the mountain to a pond that includes a beautiful view of Pepacton Reservoir. Hikers could previously reach that pond by following an old woods road that was part of the trail, but that road has been closed while DEP finishes an ongoing forestry project. The woods road and new trail will be used to create a loop hike once the forestry project is complete. Thousands of local residents and visitors have enjoyed the Shavertown Trail since DEP and CMC partnered to open it in 2013. More information about the trail, including driving direction, can be found on the CMC website by clicking here. DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality water each day to more than 9.6 million New Yorkers. This includes more than 70 upstate communities and institutions in Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties who consume an average of 110 million total gallons of drinking water daily from New York City’s water supply system. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and other professionals in the watershed. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $166 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.7 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council—that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program with $19.4 billion in investments planned over the next decade that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/nycwater.

Catskills All Trails Challenge: Adding the New Overlook Mountain Trails

There are two recent additions to the trail system on Overlook Mountain. The Meads Meadow Trail and the Overloop Trail provide new easy to moderate hikes that loop north off the Overlook Spur Trail, which has been extended to the new Meads Meadow Trailhead parking area. Together they add 1.8 miles of new trails. Going forward, those trails are being added to the list of trails that must be hiked in order to complete the All Trails Challenge requirements. With their inclusion their are now 347 miles of designated hiking trails that must be hiked to receive your cetificate, patch and shirt. More Happy Hiking!Overlook Mountain Wild Forest map.

Andes Rail Trail Gets Some Big Improvements

April 10, 2018Parking has always been a bit tricky for visitors to the Andes Rail Trail and Bullet Hole Spur, but no longer. There has been a great improvement to the parking situation thanks to the Town of Andes, landscaper Mel Bellar and CMC board member Ann Roberti. The entrance to the Trail and to the historic train station has been opened up and improved so that parking is now available adjacent to the trailhead. The trailhead itself has a newly redesigned entrance. The parking area was paved with crushed stone by LaFever Excavating. While there, they generously donated work to improve a long existing drainage problem on the trail. The CMC thanks all those involved in these projects for a great job.

Volunteer with the CMC! You'll Love It (and so will We).

Do You Have Some Time to Spare? Love to Pitch in on a Community Project? Looking for a Good Excuse to Get Out of the House (and Into the Woods)? We've Got You Covered!We admit it. We've got big eyes. We look around at all of the great things happening in the Catskills and we want to jump into the action. But, alas, we could use lots more help. Here's what's coming up. See something that appeals? Just get in touch with us and we'll tell you how you can help.

1. We're going to be building a brand new trail as soon as the thaw allows. It's on a cool site with historical features and significance, and it's in easy walking distance of the 100 year old Ashokan Reservoir with its great views, multi-use paths, bald eagles and all of that water, which is, of course, the point.
2. We'll be relocating a portion of our Shavertown Trail due to a logging operation that will harvest the many ash trees on the parcel that are threatened by emerald ash borer, a destructive invasive species. Let's face it, the cut won't be pretty even if the beetles are. We aim to fix that.
3. Did we mention trails? Well, we have four others that are going to need a little maintenance after the trials of winter. Maybe you think we're weird, but to us this is fun. See for yourself!
4. We'll let you in on a little secret. We're planning our first ever club picnic. We need help organizing it. You know..... food, games, hikes, the works. So if you like to party, this may be for you. But don't tell yet. And for heaven's sake, don't mention it on social media. This isn't another Woodstock Festival.
5. If you have professional skills that we might benefit from and you are willing to donate your services, please let us know. We occasionally need advice with membership drives, fundraising, legal questions, promotional material design, web design, sign making and more.
6. We have other needs as well, including volunteer representation at local street fairs and similar events and help keeping trailheads and visitor centers supplied with the guide to the CMC's trails, a brochure with trail descriptions and maps. If you live in New York City or northern New Jersey and could help us place our trail brochures in popular outfitters like Campmor, Tents and Trails, etc. we would like to work with you to make that happen.
7. Did we mention trails? We are going to be maintaining the trails at the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center. This job differs from our other trail maintenance in a couple of ways. First, the trails are mostly ADA accessible trails, so they are easy walks. Second, the CIC is a busy place and it will get busier. As a result, the trails will need to be checked once a month and crew members will need to be on call to clear a downed tree or other trail blocking object within a week. The total length of the trails is about one mile, so the time spent per visit should be relatively short.

Volunteering is easy. Just go to our email list and register your name and email address, then check the category of service you'd like to provide. You can be more specific in the field provided for a description of your interests, if you like. Another option is to email us at info@catskillmountainclub.org.

Read All About It in the The CMC's Winter 2018 Newsletter

Winter 2018 NewsletterHave you come home from a winter hike to find that a tick has attached itself to you!? Maybe you've been out on a little adventure on the trails and found yourself on your butt more times than you care to remember. Read our review of traction devices and you'll soon be prepared for another, safer outing. These articles and much more are yours to read by clicking here. Subscribe to our mailing list to get future newsletters and CMC updates in your mailbox automatically. Just give us your name, email address and mailing address and you'll be kept informed about CMC happenings. We promise not to flood your inbox.Of course, our favorite option would be that you become a CMC member. Our modest membership dues are what we rely on to make the wheels go 'round. And you get some nice perks with your annual membership. Check it out. Thanks.

Catskills All Trails Challenge: De-listing the Jockey Hill Trails

After careful consideration, the CMC has decided to de-list the Jockey Hill Trails as a hike required to qualify for the Catskills All Trails Challenge certificate of completion. Like the Elm Ridge trails in Greene County, which were never listed as required hikes, Jockey Hill trails are multi-purpose and are designed with the needs of mountain biking users in mind. The Department of Environmental Conservation has indicated that the trail system at Jockey Hill will be expanded to serve those needs. These additions further change the hiking experience through the design of trails that form multiple loops. Similar improvements have been made at Elm Ridge, and the CMC applauds the decision of the DEC to expand mountain biking opportunities in the Catskill Park. However, such trails are not conducive to a satisfying hiking experience.To those who have already hiked Jockey Hill in its current configuration, we say congratulations. We hope you enjoyed your explorations there. Feedback from some CATs hikers, along with consultation with the DEC about the expanded system have informed our decision. Of course, any hiker is more than welcome to explore both Jockey Hill and Elm Ridge. Until the current supply of CATs Challenge tee shirts runs out, Jockey Hill will continue to be listed on the shirt. It will be removed from the published list of required hikes. As this development illustrates, the trail system in the Catskill Park in dynamic. New trails are sometimes added and old trails are sometimes rerouted or abandoned. We appreciate input from our members and friends and look forward to hearing from you as you continue the quest. Thanks for participating and for spreading the word about the Catskills All Trails Challenge and the wonderful trails and features that are discovered with each hike!

Catskill Park Day 2018: A Call to Action

 In only a few days the CMC and its Catskill Park Coalition partners will go to Albany for our annual Catskill Park Day. We'll meet with our elected representatives, including the Governor and members of the legislature, to press for action on the policy priorities we have identified for 2018.If you are not able to travel with us to Albany for Catskill Park Day, there's a way to speak up and speak out right from the comfort of your home or office. By raising your voice, you amplify our message and add power to its effectiveness.You can either send Governor Cuomo a brief letter of support for the priorities of the Catskill Mountain Club and its Catskill Park Coalition partners, or you can call the Governor's office and give a brief message of support.Below are the specific requests made by the CPC for 2018. Simply glance at them, pick one or two that resonates with you and place your call telling the assistant who answers what you would like the Governor to support.If you prefer to write a note, we have provided a link to the form used by the Governor's office. You can simply copy and paste the message we have written below or edit it to suit your preferences.We have had good results over the past several years and anticipate continued success with support from folks like you who love the Catskills and care about its future.Thank you for your efforts!Phone number of the Governor's office: (518) 474-8390   Office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pmLink to the Governor's email system: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-formSample letter:Dear Governor Cuomo,I am writing today to respectfully ask that you give your support to the priorities for the Catskill Park and region as expressed by the Catskill Mountain Club and its fellow members of the Catskill Park Coalition.The Catskill Park is one of our nation's great natural assets, encompassing hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine wilderness and sparkling clean waters. It is home to huge communities of rare wildlife and to one of the most diverse forests in the world. And it is one of New York's greatest outdoor recreational areas, along with the Adirondack Park.Please support the continuing improvements to the Catskills environment and Park infrastructure that allow members of the public to experience the great outdoors in all its glory in a way that is both safe and sustainable.Sincerely,

Overlook Mountain: New Parking Area and Trail Will Relieve a Big Problem

December 19, 2017The DEC opened the new Meads Meadow Trailhead parking area on McDaniel Rd. today. A new trail system explores the Magic Meadow parcel, and the new connector trail leads to the existing trail to the summit and fire tower.Severe overuse has long plagued hikers with parking problems that resulted in dangerous conditions on the road for hikers and drivers alike. A downloadable map is available on the CMC website here: Overlook Mountain new parking & trails.

New: Catskills Trail Conditions Reports from the Catskill Interpretive Center

The Catskill Interpretive Center has added a very valuable service for visitors who hike in the Catskills. The weekly updated trail condition reports offer vital news about all sorts of hazards and problems that hikers might encounter. Things like washouts, trail obstructions, weather related conditions and other related info can be found in one convenient spot. Check out the CMC Facebook page on Thursdays for a link to the new reports, or visit the Catskill Interpretive Center's trail conditions webpage.The CMC is an operating partner of the Catskill Interpretive Center. To support out work there, please consider donating to or joining the CMC. Thank you.

We have a new "Wildflowers of the Catskills" page!

Visit our newly expanded page covering Wildflowers of the Catskills.We now list over 130 species and cover the seasons from early spring through fall. With Spring arriving and a new year of blooms on the way, what better way to enjoy them than to get prepared by familiarizing yourself with them? Our page is set up for quick reference and it focusses on the flowers you will see right here in the Catskills! Check it out.

HIGHLIGHTS OF CMC’S 2016 SEASON

STEWARDSHIP- The CMC annually maintains five CMC trails totaling 20 miles and seven DEC trails totaling nearly 25 miles. In 2016, 36 trail maintenance hikes were conducted totaling 750 volunteer hours, all headed by the Club’s VP , Wendell George.TRAIL BUILDING- Since 2011, the CMC has built 5 new hiking trails on lands owned by NYC DEP as well as Delaware Academy. The newest trail, that to the former fire tower on Bramley Mountain near Delhi NY, was opened on July 29th . The opening ceremony was attended by nearly 40 hiking enthusiasts, local, state and City officials and followed by a hike to the summit.The five CMC trails have been very popular since their openings. Over the past year nearly 5600 hikers have signed-in on these trails. Approximate counts by trail are:

• Delhi Trails – over 1000 visitors in 2016
• Palmer Hill Trails - 1300 in the last year
• Shavertown Trail - 1200 in the last year.
• Andes Rail Trail & Bullet Hole Spur- 1500 in the last year
• Bramley Mountain Trails - 600 hikers from opening day thru December

This year the CMC produced a brochure/map highlighting these five trails. The brochure is being distributed at all CMC trailheads as well as various informational kiosks and at the Catskill Interpretive Center in Mt. Tremper. The maps of the five CMC trails can also be viewed on our website from the Where to Go menu.CMC EVENTS- CMC members led over 40 Hikes, paddles and other CMC events in 2016 that were enjoyed by 400+ participants. In addition CMC members are leading over 25 events for this year's Catskill Lark in the Park. Upcoming hikes and other CMC events can be viewed on the CMC website at Upcoming Events.ADVOCACY - The CMC is involved with several organizations advocating for outdoor recreational concerns affecting the Catskill area.The Catskill Park Coalition is a partnership of many Catskill organizations, all concerned with outdoor recreation and related public land concerns. Each February the Coalition members travel to Albany for Catskill Park Awareness Day, advocating for increased funding for outdoor recreation, conservation and tourism related issues. In 2016 the Coalition succeeded in obtaining $500,000 dedicated for use within the Catskill Park. Part of this allocation is being used for the creation of a new comprehensive recreation plan as well as various infrastructure improvements. In addition, the continuation of the NYS Ranger Academy was stressed as well as the hiring of 2 assistant Forest Rangers, both which were granted. Also, $994,000 was asked for and allocated for the Catskill Interpretative Center, which opened on NYS Rte 28 in Mt. Tremper in July of 2015. The funding will allow for the building of a full scale old style fire tower, a fire warden’s cabin, a picnic pavilion, an amphitheater and new road side signage.Information on the 2017 Awareness Day can be viewed at catskillcenter.org/awareness-day/.The Catskill Park Advisory Committee -  The Committee is a group of local government representatives, agencies and  area organizations representing the various communities and user groups of the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed. The purpose of the Committee is to provide assistance, advice and guidance to the NYSDEC, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and other land managers in the management of the New York State Forest Preserve, the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed. The CMC is a charter member of this Committee and meets with it on a quarterly basis.STAFFING of the Maurice Hinchey Catskill Interpretitive Center (CIC) - The CMC is one of five operating partners for the CIC and provides part of the volunteer staff operating the center 363 days a year. In all,  CMC members volunteered over 600 hours for its operation in 2016. The CIC opened in July, 2015. catskillinterpretivecenter.org.CMC DONATIONS -  $1000 to Summit Stewards Program - Summit Stewards patrol the summit areas of Giant Ledge/Panther, Slide, Wittenberg, and Cornell mountains during the summer hiking period. They work closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and address the unique concerns of these peaks to the hikers they encounter. See Summit Stewards.$1000 to the Catskill Interpretive Center - The CIC is the Catskills Tourist Information Center.LARK IN THE PARK 2016- Last year was the 12th annual Lark in the Park and featured 50 separate events over 10 days from October 3rd to the 12th and was enjoyed for nearly 750 attendees. For this year’s 2016 program we had 60 events , many being held by 19 Catskill Based organizations such as Mountain Keeper, Catskill Rec. Center, Trout Unlimited and the 3500 Club. The CMC has been the main driving force of this annual event celebrating the creation of the Catskill Park. CMC members have spent over 200 man hours, planning and leading events. See catskilsllark.org.CATSKILL ALL TRAILS CHALLENGE- In 2014 the CMC created this unique opportunity for hikersto receive recognition for the hiking of all 87 trails and 350 miles of Catskill Park Trails. This year wehad 15 hikers complete the Challenge bringing the total to 32. For more on the Challenge go tohttps://catskillmountainclub.org/the-all-trails-hiking-challenge-redlining-the-catskills.SOCIAL MEDIA- The Board of Directors of the CMC sees the use of the various social media platforms as vital for the future dissemination of CMC information, news, advocacy issues as well as trail conditions and hiker safety concerns. The CMC currently uses FaceBook for communicating with CMC members.CMC BOARD OF DIRECTORS- The CMC Board meets every other month in Arkville, NY to discuss Club business, outdoor recreational issues, interface with other Catskill organizations and governments entities, plan events and review financial concerns During 2016 the all volunteer Directors spent on over 2000 man hours on club business.