From the parking area follow NYS Route 23A west to Malden Ave, follow the trail past the barriers. Poet's Ledge (3.6 miles, elevation gain 1,661 feet)Īccess the trailhead from the Harding Road Parking Area located off of NYS Route 23A. It connects the Long Path with the Mountain House Turnpike wear Rip Van Winkle Historic House site is found. This trail is open to hiking as well and is marked with red trail markers.
This horse trail runs north to south along the eastern border of Kaaterskill Wild Forest. Follow the Huckleberry Point Trail's yellow markers 1.4 miles for rewarding views of the Hudson Valley, Overlook Mountain and peaks in the Indian Head Wilderness to the southwest. At the 1-mile mark go right (east) on the Huckleberry Point Trail. From the parking area head north following the blue markers up the Long Path. The trailhead is accessed from the Steenburg Road Parking Area off of Platte Clove Road. Huckleberry Point Trail (2.4 miles, elevation gain: 644 feet) Note, reaching the actual summit of Kaaterskill High Peak require using an unmarked herd path that DEC does not maintain. The trail curves west, and wraps around Kaaterskill Peak and Roundtop Mountain. Take a left at mile 3.4 and connect to the Kaaterskill High Peak Trail. Follow the Long Path (blue markers) north. From the south the trail is accessed from the Steenburg Road parking area off of Platte Clove Road. This trail is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders in the warm months. It also connects with the southern portion of the Long Path.
This snowmobile trail encircles Roundtop Mountain and Kaaterskill High Peak. Kaaterskill High Peak Trail (6.5 miles elevation gain: 911 feet, elevation loss: -904 feet) It continues to follow the Escarpment Trail into the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness. In the northern section of the Kaaterskill Wild Forest the path follows the Harding Road Trail and the Escarpment Trail. The trail traverses the Kaaterskill Wild Forest and connects to the adjacent Indian Head Wilderness to the south and Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness to the north.
The Long Path is a backpacking trail that extends through the Catskill Forest Preserve. Watch a video of safety improvements at Kaaterskill Falls. Follow this trail to the next trail junction, and continue on the blue-marked Escarpment trail toward the Spruce Creek bridge or the Lower Falls trail. Crossing the Spruce Brook bridge leads to the viewing platform, continuing along the Escarpment trail leads to the junction with the yellow-marked Lower Falls trail.įrom the South Lake parking lot (North South Lake Campground): Walk south along South Lake Road for approximately 200 meters to the yellow-marked South-Lake access road on the right. At 0.5 miles, continue on the blue-marked trail (please sign in and out at the register). Proper footwear is encouraged.įrom the Scutt Road parking area: Follow the blue-marked Escarpment trail south. A 0.7-mile hike from the parking area leads from the gravel trail to a more naturalized section of trail, descending a moderately steep slope down to the lower pools at the base of the falls.
This firm gravel trail has minimal elevation change with a typical grade of 7%, and provides outstanding views of the falls and valley below (see accessibility information below). From the Laurel-House Road parking area: 0.3 miles to the observation platform overlooking Kaaterskill falls.