23. Batavia Kill to NY Route 23

Features: Northern Catskill Escarpment, Windham High Peak
Distance: 8.55 miles
USGSMapQuads: Freehold, Hensonville
Trail Conference Map: Trail Map 141, Northeastern Catskill Trails

General Description

The Long Path continues along the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail to NY Route
23 in East Windham. The trail crosses several 3,000-foot peaks before making
the final climb over Windham High Peak. There are many views along the way
over the Blackhead Range to the south and the Catskill and Mohawk valleys to
the north. On a clear day, one can see all the way to the southern Adirondacks.
From Windham High Peak, the trail descends to NY Route 23, at the northern
edge of the Catskill Park, passing through two groves of Norway spruce
planted by the CCC in the 1930s. For the entire length of this section, the
Long Path follows the Escarpment Trail, blazed with blue DEC trail markers.

Access

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill). Continue on Route
23 west about 22 miles to Brooksburg. At a sign for Hensonville, turn left and
proceed south on Greene County Route 65. In Hensonville, turn left onto
Greene County Route 40 and follow it to Maplecrest. In Maplecrest, bear left
onto Big Hollow Road, passing the Sugar Maples Resort, and continue about
5 miles to a parking area at the end of the road. To reach the beginning of this
section of the Long Path, follow the red-blazed Black Dome Range Trail straight
ahead for 0.5 miles to the intersection with the yellow-blazed Batavia Kill
Trail. Continue ahead on the Batavia Kill Trail 0.9 miles to the Escarpment
Trail.

Parking

0.00 Parking area at end of Big Hollow Road. This is 1.4 miles along the redblazed
Black Dome Range Trail and the yellow-blazed Batavia Kill Trail from
the beginning of this section. (18T 572932E 4682265N)
8.55 Parking area on Route 23 in East Windham, at intersection with Cross
Road. (18T 566761E 4684806N)

Camping

0.00 Batavia Kill Lean-to at 0.25 miles from the Long Path along the yellowblazed
Batavia Kill Trail.
7.45 Elm Ridge Lean-to.

Trail Description

0.00 From the intersection of the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail with the yellow-
blazed Batavia Kill trail, the Long Path proceeds north along the Escarpment
Trail, ascending an unnamed knob with a fine viewpoint over the Hudson
Valley. Although the trail runs close to the edge of the Escarpment, there are
no other views on this section of the trail. The trail begins a gradual climb up
to Acra Point.
1.80 Reach the open rock summit of Acra Point. The view here is somewhat
obscured by low growth and is confined to the north. However, a short distance
down the trail there is an open view to the west towards Big Hollow,
with the Blackhead Range towering behind. As the trail begins to descend, a
short side trail to the left leads to an open rock with another view toward Big
Hollow and the Blackhead Range. There is also a view northwest along the
ridge towards Burnt Knob and Windham High Peak. A little further down the
trail there is a view to the north. The trail continues to descend to the col
between Acra Point and Burnt Knob.

The Devil's Path from Blackhead Mountain [HERB CHONG]

2.50 The trail reaches the col. Here, the red-blazed Black Dome Range Trail
descends to the left to Big Hollow Road. Water is available from a stream 0.7
miles down this trail. The Long Path continues ahead to the west, beginning a
steep climb up Burnt Knob.
2.80 At the top of the climb, the trail curves to the left and reaches the southern
side of Burnt Knob, where a short yellow-blazed side trail to the left leads
to a beautiful viewpoint over Big Hollow and the Blackhead Range.
3.45 After descending from Burnt Knob, the trail passes by a viewpoint to the
north.
3.80 The trail reaches the summit of another unnamed knob, where a short
side trail to the left leads to a viewpoint to the southwest over Big Hollow.
3.95 After descending from the knob, the trail begins its ascent of Windham
High Peak.
4.35 The trail passes through an open area, with views of Windham High
Peak directly ahead, and begins to ascend steadily.
5.05 The Trail reaches the summit of Windham High Peak. Just before the
summit, there is a large rock outcropping to the right, with an open view to
the north. Sometimes called the "Great Northern Viewpoint", this is the last
spectacular view from the Escarpment Trail. To the north, the lesser peaks of
Ginseng, Hayden, Pisgah and Huntersfield, followed by the Long Path to the
north, are visible. In the far distance, the Helderbergs and the southern
Adirondacks may be seen on a clear day. The Hudson River valley is visible to
the northeast, and on a clear day, the City of Albany, the Taconics and the
Green Mountains of Vermont may also be seen. The trail bears left and
continues along the level summit, with a partial view over the Blackhead Range to
the southeast, and another partial view northwest at the west end of the summit.
It then begins a steady descent.

Windham High Peak from Burnt Knob [MICHAEL WARREN]

6.75 The trail enters the first of two groves of Norway spruce trees planted by
the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The trail climbs over the tangled
roots of these trees. Between the two groves, the trail passes through a small
open area.
7.40 Shortly after passing a short yellow-blazed side trail to a rock ledge (the
view from this point is obscured by overgrown vegetation), the trail passes the
Elm Ridge Lean-to, to the left of the trail.
7.45 The Long Path turns right at a junction, continuing along the blueblazed
Escarpment Trail, as the yellow-blazed Elm Ridge Trail descends to the
left for 0.85 miles to the parking area at the end of Peck Road. The Long Path
now follows a wide snowmobile trail, the route of an old turnpike across the
mountains.
7.60 Turn left, leaving the old road, and continue to descend on a narrower
path.
7.70 Turn sharply to the right and descend steeply.
8.55 After passing a trail register, the trail crosses a bridge over a stream and
reaches NY Route 23 near East Windham. To continue, go across Route 23
and follow Cross Road to the northwest.