Hike of the Week 11/10/2005

The Blackhead Ridge

Location:  Northern Catskills - Long, but worth it: Catskill hike is triple-peak walk

Length:  9.2 miles round trip

Rating:  Strenuous

Dogs: 

Map:  NYNJTC New York Walk Book Map #13. NYNJTC Catskills Trail Map. Catskill Mountains map included in Peter W. Kick's Catskill Mountain Guide

Features: A rugged hike over three 3,900-foot mountains, the third, fourth and fifth highest peaks in the Catskills. A great, gratifying workout. Some superb Catskill views.

Watch out for: Overdoing it. This is an out-and-back hike, and you will be doing five climbs if you go all the way to Blackhead. As you are heading east to Blackhead, keep in mind that you will have to reclimb Black Dome and Thomas Cole on the way back.

Background:

Thomas Cole (3,960 feet), Black Dome (3,990 feet) and Blackhead (3,950 feet) are the third, fourth and fifth highest of the 35 Catskill peaks that exceed 3,500 feet in elevation. They tower over the tranquil East Jewett Valley in the Northern Catskills. The Black Dome Range trail begins near the small village of Maplecrest. Combined with the Blackhead Mountain Trail, it allows a day-hike traverse of all three peaks, intersecting the rugged Escarpment Trail on the summit of Blackhead, the easternmost of the three peaks.

Hike Description:

Follow the red DEC discs along the rocky woods road for a quarter-mile. Turn left off the road and ascend steadily to the 3,250-foot Camel's Hump, with views ahead of Thomas Cole. Descend to a long, unique plateau, then begin a steady climb to the wooded, 3,940-foot Thomas Cole summit at 2.4 miles. A yellow-blazed side trail offers limited views to the south. Descend gently to a 3,720-foot col, the highest in the Catskills. At 3.4 miles, reach the 3,980-foot Black Dome summit, with an open area looking south. Begin a steep descent to Lockwood Gap. Halfway down, an open ledge offers a great view of Black Dome. At the Gap, continue straight ahead on the yellow-blazed Blackhead Mountain Trail. Ascend steeply to an outstanding viewpoint on open ledges, then more gradually to the wooded, 3,950-foot Blackhead summit, at the intersection with the rugged Escarpment Trail. Pat yourself on the back. You've just climbed three of the five highest peaks in the Catskills. Take a well-deserved break before you re-climb two of them on the way back to your car.

How to get there: 

Thruway to Exit 20 (Saugerties/Woodstock). North on Route 32, then left on Route 32A. Right in Tannersville on Greene County Route 23C toward East Jewett. Right on Greene County Route 40 toward Maplecrest. Right on Barnum Road (also known as Elmer Barnum Road), one mile to the trail head at the end of the road.

About the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference : The NY-NJ Trail Conference is a federation of hiking clubs, environmental organizations and individual members who volunteer their time and resources to build and maintain hiking trails and protect related open space in the bi-state region.

Information : For a more detailed description of this hike including a map, visit www.nynjtc.org and click on Hike of the Week. For information on NYNJTC activities, call 201-512-9348 or email info@nynjtc.org.

Hike of the Week is a regular feature in the Poughkeepsie Journal Players section, call 845-437-4848. This hike is contributed by Ralph Ferrusi of Stormville.

V3 Last updated: November 21, 2005   Copyright © 1996-2004  New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Privacy Statement.