Slide Mountain (Highest Peak in Catskills) Loop

Catskill Park

Devils Path from just below Slide Mountain summit. Photo by Benzy Sanders. Devils Path from just below Slide Mountain summit. Photo by Benzy Sanders.

This loop hike climbs to the summit of Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskills, with several outstanding viewpoints.

42.008815, -74.427539

From the parking area, proceed east on the yellow-blazed Phoenicia-East Branch Trail, which crosses the West Branch of the Neversink River on rocks, and then climbs on a rocky footpath, reaching an old woods road in 0.4 mile. Follow the yellow-blazed trail as it turns right and runs along the level woods road. In another third of a mile...

Prepare For Your Hike

Avenza App Map: Catskill 143

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Trip Reports

rate experience
September 15, 2016
0
Views still exist
<p>The viewpoint from the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail over Table Mountain still exists. There has been some tree growth, but if you head a little to the left, there is a spot where you can still get a panoramic view. &nbsp;I was there this past January, and I have a beautiful unobstructed photo of Table Mountain that I took from this viewpoint. &nbsp;The trick is to turn left and walk along the rock ledge until you reach an unobstructed view. &nbsp;You are correct that the viewpoint from just past the summit of Slide Mountain is largely grown in, but the view over the Blackhead Range from the viewpoint just before the summit of Slide is still unobstructed and spectacular.</p>
Daniel Chazin
September 15, 2016
0
Views
<p>I'm afraid a couple of the views may not what they were in the past due to tree growth. The "<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #edefd9;">outstanding viewpoint over Table, Lone, Rocky and Balsam Cap Mountains" &nbsp;</span>is a rather disappointing view of their tops. And the final view just past the summit is definitely worth seeing but is significantly blocked.</p>
Jim R
October 21, 2014
0
Approaches to Slide Mountain
<p>Yes, you are correct that the Cornell-Wittenberg-Slide Trail, from its start at the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail to about the 3,500-foot elevation, is very rocky and a relatively unattractive route. &nbsp;It is the old road formerly used to access the fire tower and was not built as a trail. &nbsp;That is why the hike described above uses the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail to climb Slide Mountain. &nbsp;This is a far more interesting and attractive route. &nbsp;Unless you just want to get to the summit and back by the quickest route (and it seems that most people want to do that), I strongly recommend that you use the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail for the ascent of the mountain. &nbsp;And for those to whom it matters, portions of the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail are actually "runnable"!</p>
Daniel Chazin
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