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
Best Breweries in The Catskills
With a growing number of world-class breweries calling the Catskills home, beer lovers have plenty of reasons to visit.
Advice for Solo Female Hikers: Persist
Women hikers often face pushback for heading into the wilderness alone. It’s time to call it what it is.
Trail Guides
The Best Hikes
These are the best hikes in the Catskills, Adirondacks, Hudson Highlands, Gunks, Taconics….
5 Best Hiking Trails Near Woodstock
Here are the best hiking trails near Woodstock, New York. All kid-friendly so the whole family can enjoy a deep nature excursion.
16 Reasons to Hike Huckleberry Loop Trail
Is Huckleberry Loop Trail the most beautiful hike in The Catskills? This mile-by-mile guide walks you through it all.
Stoppel Point (Plane Crash)
An absolutely delightful hike from Colgate Lake, around Lake Capra, and along Stoppel Point’s beautiful and scenic escarpment ridge.
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.
18 Amazing Western Catskills Hikes
Some of the best day hikes are only a few hours from New York City. The Western Catskills have it all!
6 Easy Catskills Hikes
Want a deep Catskills experience without the angst of a rigorous mountain hike? These are the hikes for you.
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.
Moderate Hikes
Storm King Mountain
Storm King Mountain from Cornwall-on-Hudson has better parking and quieter trails — and you still get all the same incredible views.
Inspiration Point (Catskills)
Inspiration Point in Kaaterskill Clove is one of the top scenic destinations in The Catskills.
Steep Catskills Hike to Two Lookouts
A short, steep Nature Walk through peaceful woods to two views of the Ashokan Reservoir and surrounding Catskills peaks.
Difficult Hikes
Traverse Panther from Oliverea to Fox Hollow
The views on this hiking trail are some of the best in the Catskills. The route crosses the entire ridge of Panther Mountain, from south to north. This was one of the first group hikes I went on. Giant Ledge in particular is one of the most popular hikes in the area.
16 Reasons to Hike Huckleberry Loop Trail
Is Huckleberry Loop Trail the most beautiful hike in The Catskills? This mile-by-mile guide walks you through it all.
Plateau via Daley Ridge
Daley Ridge is rugged, densely wooded, and absolutely charming. Many long-time Catskills hikers feel this is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Catskills.
Recommended Reads
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.
6 Easy Catskills Hikes
Want a deep Catskills experience without the angst of a rigorous mountain hike? These are the hikes for you.
Where are the Catskill Mountains?
The Catskill Mountains are located in New York State, south of Albany and west of the Hudson River.
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…
Best Breweries in The Catskills
With a growing number of world-class breweries calling the Catskills home, beer lovers have plenty of reasons to visit.
Patreon Access: Issues & Fixes
For Patreon subscribers, problems with unlocking content on this website are not common — but they are frustrating. Here are the fixes.
Secret Hike: Mega Mounds & Shadow Pool
This short, strange hike leads through one of the largest quarries in The Catskills.
Balsam Lake Fire Tower (updated)
Incredible 360° wilderness views make this hike spectacular at any time of year.
Advice for Solo Female Hikers: Persist
Women hikers often face pushback for heading into the wilderness alone. It’s time to call it what it is.
Secret Hike: Waterfall Superhighway
A stunning Catskills “canyon” dotted with multiple gorgeous waterfalls.
Van Wyck to Table & Peekamoose (updated)
Two plane wrecks. Two bear holes. Two talus fields. One incredible view.
The Trail to Inclusivity
Not everyone is on board.
The Catskills Most Frequently Asked Questions
These are the most frequently asked questions about The Catskills, according to Google.
Devil’s Path Trail (Ultimate Guide)
Everything you need to know about the Devils Path — one of the most difficult hiking trails in New York State.
Survivor Bias
Survivor bias in hiking is a safety issue. So is an optimism bias.
Croagh Patrick Trail Guide
One of the most scenic hikes in Ireland.