Your Input Wanted: Help Shape the Future of the Catskills’ Wildest Peaks
The DEC has released a new plan for the Catskill High Peaks—and they want to hear from you.
The Catskill Mountains have long captivated outdoor enthusiasts with their enchanting forests and sweeping vistas. From the well-trodden path to Slide Mountain’s summit and legendary routes like the Devil’s Path to the remote solitude of its backcountry peaks, the region invites exploration, introspection, and a reverence for nature.
In recent years, however, increased visitation to the Catskills has put mounting pressure on its fragile high-elevation ecosystems. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has developed a response to these challenges—and they’re inviting the public to weigh in.
In July, the DEC released the Visitor Use Management Plan for the Formerly Trailless Catskill High Peaks. The draft VUM Plan outlines sustainable land management strategies for 16 remote Catskill summits over 3,500 feet that have historically lacked formal trails.
Shaping the Future of the High Peaks Together
A surge in foot traffic to these historically trailless summits has led to the spread of informal “herd paths” across high-elevation terrain. As a result, the informal paths have fragmented forests, disrupted wildlife, and introduced invasive species to the backcountry. The DEC’s draft VUM Plan explores new approaches for balancing visitor access to peaks like Rocky, Lone, and North Dome, while also protecting natural resources and minimizing impact on the environment.
The newly released draft plan draws on years of data collection and stakeholder input, including heat map data of informal trail networks across summits without a consolidated pathway (see above figure, bottom left, of the informal trail network on Rocky Mountain) to trail user survey data collected by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. It outlines proposals to:
- Identify and promote a preferred route to each summit
- Consolidate and rewild the extra herd paths
- Closely monitor wilderness restoration
- Expand education and outreach in partnership with regional organizations
The DEC will accept comments through Monday, September 15, 2025. A free virtual public webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 6 PM to present the plan and answer questions from the public. Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to review the plan, attend the webinar, and share their feedback with the DEC.
👉 Click here to read the DEC’s press release and learn how to submit your comments.
👉 Tap the buttons below to read the Visitor Use Management Plan and register for the 8/6 webinar.