Meet the team making a difference on the trail.
From May through October, our Catskill Summit Stewards are stationed at high-use summits and viewpoints across the Catskill Forest Preserve, including Slide, Wittenberg, Cornell, Giant Ledge, North Point, the Blackhead Range, and Windham High Peak. They provide on-the-ground outreach, educate visitors about the unique ecology of the Catskill high peaks, and engage hikers in meaningful conversations about Leave No Trace principles and responsible recreation.
The team recently shared their 2026 mid-season report, highlighting the extraordinary impact they’ve already made. Take a look!
By the Numbers: The Mid-Season Impact of Our 2026 Catskill Summit Stewards
📊 5,527 total hikers encountered so far
🤝 2,200 hikers educated or assisted
🎒 156 hikers directed to other park destinations
🔥 39 unauthorized fire rings removed
🚮 102 bags of litter carried out
🆘 6 lost or injured hikers helped
In many ways, our stewards are the friendly face of the outdoors. They serve as approachable educators and trusted resources on some of the Catskills’ most popular trails and summits. Their primary teaching tool is simple: conversation. Through one-on-one interactions, they share information about hiking and camping regulations, trail conditions, low-impact recreation, water availability, fire-risk mitigation, and other places to explore throughout the region.
Guided by a passion for conservation as well as a love of Catskills history and ecology, Summit Stewards help hikers enjoy their adventures while protecting these mountains, one welcoming interaction at a time.
If you see the team out on the trail this season, be sure to say hello!
Interested in learning more? Read all about how our Trail and Summit Stewards protect the land you love in the Summer 2026 issue of Trail Walker.