DEC Announces Long Path Revitalization Project to Enhance Hiker Safety in Catskill Forest Preserve
ON FRIDAY, May 9, 2025, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced funding to improve the Long Path in the Vernooy Kill Falls area of the southern Catskills.
The planned enhancement project will reroute an eight-mile segment of the long-distance trail off a narrow roadway and into tranquil wooded beauty, significantly improving hiker safety.
This victory, years in the making, demonstrates what our community can achieve when we work together to elevate the hiking experience and increase the public’s access to the outdoors.
An Epic Trek from the Heart of the City to Wild Nature
The Long Path is a 358-mile long-distance trail that spans the West 175th Street Subway Station at the George Washington Bridge in New York City to the Adirondack Park, inviting adventurers on a unique journey through New York State’s scenic landscapes and rich cultural history.
For over 50 years, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has led the way in maintaining this iconic long-distance trail, working together with our volunteers and partners like NYS DEC to ensure the Long Path’s continued preservation and growth.
Central to our stewardship efforts is the elimination of road walks along the Long Path—getting hikers off the asphalt and back into nature. Today’s announcement is an exciting step in that direction.
Blazing a Path Forward Together
Currently, hikers of the Long Path must traverse nine miles of roadway without sidewalks between Lundy Road and Upper Cherrytown Road in Ulster County, New York.
The proposed trail relocation will eliminate this dangerous section by constructing eight miles of new trail within the Catskill Forest Preserve.
Not only will this relocation project improve hiker safety, it will also enhance recreational opportunities in the Vernooy Kill Falls area. Once completed, the new trail segment will connect existing public trails in Sundown Wild Forest with the trail network in nearby Vernooy Kill State Forest.
Hank Osborn, the Trail Conference’s Director of Programs, celebrated the announcement and championed the collective efforts of the Trail Conference and DEC:
“For over 50 years, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has led the effort to protect and enhance the Long Path—one of our premier long-distance trails. In partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, we’ve worked to move the trail off roads and into more natural, scenic environments. This new section through Sundown Wild Forest is a milestone in that vision, bringing hikers into the peaceful heart of the Catskills and away from pavement and traffic. It’s a powerful example of what regional collaboration can achieve in preserving and improving the trail experience.”
Zachary Cole, the Trail Conference’s Long-Distance Trails Program Coordinator, affirmed Osborn’s view:
“Replacing miles of road walking with a scenic trail through Sundown Wild Forest marks a major step forward in enhancing the hiker experience on the Long Path. This achievement reflects the strength of our ongoing partnership with NYS DEC and our shared commitment to expanding access to New York’s incredible natural landscapes.”
DEC invites the public to comment on its detailed work plan before trail construction begins. You can find the Long Path Trail Relocation work plan on DEC’s website.
Comments will be accepted through May 21, 2025. Submit your comments by email to [email protected] or by mail to Pine Roehrs, NYS DEC, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY, 12561.
To read DEC’s full press release, click here. The project complements Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which promotes physical and mental health by encouraging kids and families to put down their devices and enjoy recreation and the outdoors.