Catskill Park

Catskill Park

View of the Catskills from the Escarpment Trail - Catskill Park - Photo credit: Jeremy Apgar View of the Catskills from the Escarpment Trail - Catskill Park - Photo credit: Jeremy Apgar View of the Catskills from Blackhead Mountain - Photo credit: Jeremy Apgar View of the Catskills from Blackhead Mountain - Photo credit: Jeremy Apgar  Diamond Notch Falls - Catskill Park - Photo credit: Jeremy Apgar  Diamond Notch Falls - Catskill Park - Photo credit: Jeremy Apgar
42.027671, -74.269686

Thirty-three peaks and ridges on public lands in the Catskills have elevations of 3,500 feet or more; 19 of them have maintained trails to their summits.  Hundreds of miles of trails of all degrees of difficulty invite the hiker to this varied and delightful area.

Trail Alerts - Catskill Park

Click here to find trail alerts and updates for the Catskills.

Catskill Park

North...

Park Acreage:

292000.00 acres

Municipality:

Various towns, Greene/Sullivan/Delaware

Read full description

Contact Information

Web Link:

NYS, Department of Environmental Conservation

Phone:

Not available

Fees:

None

Dogs in park:

Dogs off leash

Prepare For Your Destination

Avenza App Map: Catskill Combined

Let's Go

Trip Reports

rate experience
February 23, 2010
0
German Hollow Lean-to Crushed by Fallen Trees
Doug Senterman, volunteer supervisor of lean-tos in the Catskills for the Trail Conference reports on Feb. 23, 2010:

Some time over the winter (likely in the Jan. rain/wind storm) not just one but six trees came down and crushed the German Hollow Lean-to and it has been completely destroyed! The lean-to can not be used in it current condition and is dangerous to go around due to all the splintered wood and metal from the roof so please spread the word that it is gone and should be avoided.

Georgette Weir
September 28, 2009
0
Devil's Path

Excerpt the NYT "Escapes" page:

New York Times, Stephen Regenold, "2 Days, 3 Nights, on a Path Named for a Devil," September 25, 2009.

"NIGHTFALL came after the rain had stopped, and in the wet woods columns of fog twisted around dripping trees. It was 10 p.m. on a summer Friday, the forest moonless and still at the trailhead to the Devil's Path.

An opening in the woods off the parking lot looked like a dark door. Beyond, a small trail edged into the night, its route unseen. The Devil's Path, an east-to-west voyage along the spine of the Catskills, is often cited as the toughest hiking trail in the East. In 25 miles it ascends six major peaks, plunging into deep valleys between climbs.

‘From end to end the Devil's Path is one of the more challenging trails around,' said Josh Howard, a director at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, which publishes detailed maps of area trails, including the Devil's Path.

Backpackers hoping to complete the route face a total climb and descent of more than 14,000 feet. Steep ascents include cliff bands and traverse terrain that is vertical enough at times to be confused with a mountain climb.

‘It's straight up and straight down, and then you do it over again,' said Mr. Howard, 33, who once hiked the entire trail in a one-day feat of endurance.

Most backpacking groups commit three days of hiking to complete the route, according to the trail conference. Backpackers can camp in lean-tos along the way and purify water from streams."    

For the rest of the article, click on this link to the NYT.

Phil McLewin
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