Mountain Meaning
HOME QUOTE
“Here the works of man dwindle.”
— John Burroughs
Hi! Bonjour! ¡Hola! 안녕하세요! Ciao! Hallo! Dia dhuit!
Interactive Map of Hiking Trail Reports
The icons below are color-coded for difficulty: green, yellow, orange, red. Clicking on a pin will display the link to that hike report.
The Classic High Peaks
The Traditional List of Catskills Peaks Above 3500’
Most people start hiking the Catskills by climbing a few High Peaks: Indian Head, Slide Mountain & Balsam Lake are popular starting points. Here are the 35 summits you’ll need to bag if you want to join the 3500 Club.
The Best/Easiest Mountain Hikes
The Very Best Hikes You Can Do in the Catskill Park
These lists are a curated selection of the most rewarding hikes you can do in the Catskills: the best of the High Peaks, the best of the lower peaks, the best trails and bushwhacks. It’s an awesome time, every time.
Wilderness Safety Basics
Planning Tips, Kit Lists, Emergency Numbers
Start safely, hike well, and finish in one piece. Here’s everything you’ll need: your clothing, your kit, how to plan a safe hike in every season, the best apps, what to eat, what to bring. It’s all the advice in one place.
Or Start Here…
With hundreds of miles of hiking trails and countless bushwhack routes, there are so many ways to hike the Catskill Mountains
Apart from the two lists above — the Classic High Peaks and the Best Catskill Hikes — you can also view a list of All Catskills or go directly to Easiest, Moderate, Difficult or Hardest peaks
Sorry I can’t make new mountains — but I add new hikes every week
Recommended Reads
Microspikes & Trail Crampons (Winter Traction Footwear)
This short post discusses the basic differences between cleats, microspikes, trail crampons, crampons, and snowshoes — and describes the safety benefits of each.
Hiking Safety: Wind – How Windy is Too Windy To Hike?
I moved my hike from a windy Friday to a less windy (but much colder) Saturday. 80% of my online followers agreed with me. Here’s why.
PSA: Buy a Hiking Headlamp – Your Phone’s Flashlight Sucks!
For hikers and campers, headlamps are essential pieces of gear. Whether you’re hiking out at dusk after a long day, or hiking in, in the pitch dark for a glorious summit sunrise, a headlamp will keep you on track and safe.
Catskill 3500 Trail Conditions Google Spreadsheet
For current trail conditions, this shared Google spreadsheet is a great resource to check before (and after) your next Catskill 3500 hike.
Backcountry Camping in the Catskills: A Beginner’s Guide
If you want to camp out in the Catskills backcountry, it’s probably because you want to experience the wilderness on your own terms. This comprehensive list of resources, regulations and gear will help get you ready for your first Catskills campout.
Hiking News & Culture
Wallpapers 01 – Catskills Summits
Please enjoy this collection of Catskills wallpapers for your desktop computer. This set contains 16 images of Catskills summits.
PSA: How Long Does Trash Last on the Trail?
Many people don’t know how long it takes natural items to decompose, assuming that whatever biological matter they discard will break down quickly. But many of our most common scraps take an astonishing amount of time to fully disintegrate…
DEC Update on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment
Approximately 2,500 hemlock trees were treated to kill any present HWA and protect from any future infestations.
Tackling High Use & Overuse in New York’s Forest Preserves
Problems and solutions for tackling high use and overuse in New York's forest preserves.
Accessing Doubletop & Graham – UPDATED
Latest info for hiking Graham & Doubletop. Please read. Important changes are being instituted…
When Does Hiking Season End in the Catskills?
Learn how to extend your hiking into the fourth — and greatest! — hiking season. Catskills hiking never ends…
Catskills | Taconics | Adirondacks
Latest Mountain Hiking Posts
All recent posts in chronological order
Wallpapers 01 – Catskills Summits
Please enjoy this collection of Catskills wallpapers for your desktop computer. This set contains 16 images of Catskills summits.
Microspikes & Trail Crampons (Winter Traction Footwear)
This short post discusses the basic differences between cleats, microspikes, trail crampons, crampons, and snowshoes — and describes the safety benefits of each.
Cortina Ski Resort Ruins
A short, easy half-mile hike leads up to the very creepy ruins of an old abandoned Catskills ski resort. Bring a friend!
PSA: How Long Does Trash Last on the Trail?
Many people don’t know how long it takes natural items to decompose, assuming that whatever biological matter they discard will break down quickly. But many of our most common scraps take an astonishing amount of time to fully disintegrate…
PSA: Leave No Trace at the Trailhead
Step up your LNT game with this simple post-hike trick.
Hiking Safety: Wind – How Windy is Too Windy To Hike?
I moved my hike from a windy Friday to a less windy (but much colder) Saturday. 80% of my online followers agreed with me. Here’s why.
DEC Update on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment
Approximately 2,500 hemlock trees were treated to kill any present HWA and protect from any future infestations.
PSA: Buy a Hiking Headlamp – Your Phone’s Flashlight Sucks!
For hikers and campers, headlamps are essential pieces of gear. Whether you’re hiking out at dusk after a long day, or hiking in, in the pitch dark for a glorious summit sunrise, a headlamp will keep you on track and safe.
Tackling High Use & Overuse in New York’s Forest Preserves
Problems and solutions for tackling high use and overuse in New York's forest preserves.
Accessing Doubletop & Graham – UPDATED
Latest info for hiking Graham & Doubletop. Please read. Important changes are being instituted…
Rocky and Lone via Fisherman’s Path
Due to the remoteness of its two mountains, the ruggedness of the terrain, and the skin-shredding forest, this is widely regarded as the toughest hike in the Catskills.
Fisherman’s Path
The Fisherman’s Path is an unmaintained hiking trail in Denning, New York, popular with casual hikers for weekend campouts and used regularly by 3500 hikers to access Rocky & Lone mountains. The entire trail is exceptionally beautiful.
Catskill 3500 Trail Conditions Google Spreadsheet
For current trail conditions, this shared Google spreadsheet is a great resource to check before (and after) your next Catskill 3500 hike.
When Does Hiking Season End in the Catskills?
Learn how to extend your hiking into the fourth — and greatest! — hiking season. Catskills hiking never ends…
Ashokan High Point — Full Loop Hiking Trail with Plane Wreck
This wonderful loop hike has an easy start with almost three miles of beautiful riparian trail. Then a steep climb leads to the summit where there’s a great view of Mohonk and the Shawangunk Ridge. The hike down Ashokan High Point’s west side is notable for its beautiful meadows and views, a plane wreck, as well as a handful of steep trail pitches.
Bushwhack from Ashokan High Point to Little Ashokan
The bushwhack to Little Ashokan is one of the steeper and sketchier routes I’ve hiked in the Catskills: craggy ledges, loose dirt and rocks, lots of blowdown. But the summit is magical, and the view it affords it is startlingly beautiful.
Mountain-Hiking.com
This site is currently an early version of what I hope will become a valuable resource for Catskills hikers over the next few years
My immediate next actions for the site are…
- Finish adding hike posts so that every Catskill High Peak has at least one associated hike ✅
- Add hiking gear reviews — particularly winter hiking gear ✅
- Add other kinds of content
- Best places to eat for hikers ✅
- Best hiking apps ✅
- A list of kid-friendly Catskills hikes ✅
- A list of Catskills nature walks ✅
- Catskills news ✅
- A list of the most popular Catskill mountain hikes ✅
- Posts on hiking health, Catskills history and geology, and climate change
- Integrate feedback from early users ✅
- Add a lot more photography to all posts ✅
- Add more hikes for lower Catskills peaks ✅
- Add brief mountain notes to all mountain header pages
- Add more hikes so all mountains have an increasing number of alternate routes
Okay, have a great hike! Hope to see you out there…
Sean
