Start Your Mountain Hiking Here
With hundreds of mountain hiking trails, and countless bushwhack routes, there are so many ways to hike the mountains. I hike all year long and add new super-detailed trail guides every month…
Apart from the Classic Catskills High Peaks and the Best Hikes in the Catskills, you can also view lists of Popular Catskills Hikes and Scenic Catskills Hikes.
If you’re just starting out hiking, check out this Easy Hikes list. And, if you have family in tow, this list of Kid-Friendly Hikes will give you plenty of great options.
For anyone new to hiking, Nature Walks are a great way to get a deep dose of forest magic without much uphill effort.
Master Map for All Trail Guides
Check out this Adirondack and Catskills Hiking Map — it’s a master map of all the Catskills hiking trails in the Catskills High Peaks that have trail guides on this website. This map also includes my Adirondack Mountains Trail Map guide to all the Adirondack hiking trails on the site.
Catskills Fall Foliage
Get the latest intel on Catskills fall foliage, including the best Catskills fall foliage hikes and some truly incredible Adirondack fall foliage hikes.
What is the Hardest Hike in The Catskills?
It’s The Devil’s Path, one of the most difficult and notorious hikes on the East Coast. From end to end, the Devil’s Path is about 24 miles in length — and you’re looking at almost 9000’ of elevation gain with a similar amount of loss over the length of the trail. Pack your a-game!
Leave No Trace
Get up-to-speed with best practices in no time with the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.
Hiking News & Culture
Times Union Writing
I write about hiking the Hudson Valley regularly for Times Union in Albany.
Catskills & Adirondacks Fall Foliage Reports 2024
The best Catskills Fall Foliage Report because it’s direct from the Catskills!
Trail Guides
The Best Hikes
These are the best hikes in the Catskills, Adirondacks, Hudson Highlands, Gunks, Taconics….
Friday, Balsam Cap & B-25 Crash Site
A long, tough, rewarding hike that follows woods roads and herd paths, and ends with a true bushwhack to the wreckage of a WWII military bomber.
Hike Sugarloaf & Twin from Roaring Kill
Any hike that includes Twin Mountain is a great hike. From either side, Twin offers some the funnest ascents in the Catskill Park. But the western side of Twin, with its steep talus field and a section of technical open rock face, is perhaps the toughest 0.7 mile you’ll hike on any Catskill trail.
The Catskills 6: Friday, Balsam Cap, Rocky, Lone, Table, Peekamoose
Tackling this route as part of a group hike makes it a fantastic experience.
Easy Mountain Hikes
Be aware that “easy mountain hikes” does not mean “easy hikes” — before you go, learn how to stay safe on a mountain.
Balsam Lake Fire Tower (updated)
Incredible 360° wilderness views make this hike spectacular at any time of year.
Kelly Hollow Loop
Short, easy and thoroughly absorbing, Kelly Hollow Loop is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Catskills. It came highly-recommended and it absolutely delivered.
Hike Rochester Hollow
An easy hike through beautiful woods leads to a series of magnificent stone fences, ruins, and a memorial to John Burroughs. This is an underutilized and under-appreciated trail. Especially suited to skiers, trail-runners and animal track lovers.
Moderate Hikes
Slide Mountain (Best Route)
This loop features an easy ascent, great Catskills views, and a beautiful walk-out that passes through varied woods and terrain.
Windham High Peak via Burnt Knob (with Acra Point)
Hike to Windham High peak through beautiful riparian terrain to a long ridge that’s peppered with amazing views.
Hike Table & Peekamoose from Denning
I was not prepared for how much I would fall in love with this hike. I’d heard both summits were low on scenic views so my plan was to just check both peaks off my 3500 list and move on. Wrong. So wrong. 100% dead-ass wrong.
Difficult Hikes
West Kill via St. Anne’s Peak
A long, strenuous hike over a massive Devil’s Path mountain that includes a variety of Catskills terrain and an epic view from Buck Ridge Lookout.
Rusk: First Bushwhack
Like me, if you’ve never been on a bushwhack hike—a hike without a trail—the thought of wandering into the woods with zero guide-rails seems completely intimidating. The best thing to do, here, is to join a group hike, or hook up an experienced pal who can show you the ropes.
Hike Balsam Cap in the Clouds
A direct line from Moonhaw takes you up the shortest possible route to Balsam Cap but be warned: the way is steep. This is a tough Catskill hike.
Recommended Reads
The 3 Best Ways to Not Die on a Hike
Every month, people get into trouble in the Catskills, almost always because they are under-prepared. Here are the 3 best things you can do to stay safe on your hike, while making sure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.
The 10 Essentials: What to Pack for Every Hike
The 10 Essentials is a list of items you should carry on every trip into the backcountry.
Basic Mountain Hiking Gear
While hiking gear can change from trail to trail, and from season to season, the following items will serve you well on every hike. They are a fleshing out of The Ten Essentials (the absolute bare minimum you should pack for every hike). This hiking gear list focuses on day-hiking.
Wilderness Safety For You
Mountain Hiking, Planning Tips, Gear Lists, Emergency Numbers
Start mountain hiking safely, hike well, finish in one piece. Here’s everything you’ll need: your clothing, your gear, how to plan a safe hike in every season, the best apps, what to eat, what to bring. It’s the advice you’ll need, all in one place.
The Best Mountain Hikes
The Best Hikes You Can Do in the Catskills, Adirondacks, Gunks…
This mountain hiking list is a personally-curated selection of the most rewarding hikes you can do in the Catskills, Adirondacks, Hudson Highlands, Shawangunks, Taconics and elsewhere. Hike an awesome hiking trail every week!
The Catskills High Peaks
The Traditional List of Catskills Peaks Above 3500’
Most people begin mountain hiking in the Catskills by climbing a few High Peaks: Indian Head, Slide Mountain & Balsam Lake are popular starting points. Here are the summits you’ll need to bag if you want to join the Catskill 3500 Club.
Best Hikes in the Catskills, Adirondacks, Shawangunks, Hudson Highlands, Taconics and more…
The most recent posts on this site…
Times Union Writing
I write about hiking the Hudson Valley regularly for Times Union in Albany.
Falling Waters Preserve
Head to Falling Waters Preserve for a delightful stroll that’s all about the simple joys of being outside.
Catskills & Adirondacks Fall Foliage Reports 2024
The best Catskills Fall Foliage Report because it’s direct from the Catskills!
12 Best Fall Foliage Hikes in the Catskills
When the fall foliage hits, the Catskills offer a true golden spectacle. Here are a the most popular Catskills hikes to view the autumn extravaganza.
Ferncliff Forest Fire Tower
This Ferncliff Forest Fire Tower hike offers easy, delightful trails that lead to stunning 360° views of the surrounding Hudson Valley. Here’s everything you need to know.
Pine Swamp Mine in Harriman State Park
This hike to and beyond Pine Swamp Mine is a wonderful butterfly-shaped figure-of-eight loop through Harriman State Park.
Hunter Mountain via Becker Hollow Trail
The shortest route to highest-situated fire tower in New York State is one of its steepest trails.
Halcott’s Herd Path
Big changes on this mountain over the last few years…
Vasque St. Elias Hiking Boots Review
A robust, reliable choice for serious hikers.
Dog Poop Bags: How Dogshit Owners are Ruining the Outdoors
Dog owners, do better.
Rocky & Lone from Moonhaw
A long, lovely, difficult bushwhack—best hiked with a fun, solid crew.
13 Lightning Safety Myths That Could Get You Killed in a Thunderstorm
Much longstanding lightning safety advice remains useful, but some important debunking has taken place.
