Mountain Meaning
HOME QUOTE
“We must undergo a hard winter training and not rush into things for which we haven’t prepared.”
— Epictetus
Recommended Reads
Snowshoe Basics
The number of snowshoe options is overwhelming. Here’s a quick guide on what to look for, and where to get your first pair.
Storage Bins for Hiking Gear
I sorted my growing jumble of hiking gear as a fun weekend project. With all my regular hike gear in a single box, I don’t have to worry I’m overlooking or forgetting anything. I spend less time preparing — which means more time doing.
Trail Terms: Winter Lingo
Once the cold weather sets in, you’ll start to see and hear these winter trail terms online in forums and social posts. Here’s what they all mean.
How Cold is Too Cold to Hike?
January 2021 had some spectacularly cold weather in the Catskills, with wind chills dipping close to -40°F / -40°C at summits. But how cold is too cold? Here are 6 things you need to think about: weather, comfort, safety, frostbite, hypothermia, and gear.
Winter Day-Hike Essentials Checklist
Download this helpful PDF with explanatory notes and a handy winter day-hike essentials checklist.
Microspikes & Trail Crampons – Winter Traction
This short post discusses the basic differences between cleats, microspikes, trail crampons, crampons, and snowshoes — and describes the safety benefits of each.
Hiking News & Culture
Catskill Mountains Happy Hikers Facebook Group
A new social group has launched on Facebook that provides a much-needed positive social hub for Catskills hikers.
New Red Hill Hiking Trail & Trailhead
The newly constructed Red Hill Fire Tower Trailhead is located in Ulster County on Denning Road in the Town of Denning is open for use.
Doubletop & Graham CLOSED PERMANENTLY!
Latest info for hiking Graham & Doubletop. Please read. Important changes are being instituted…
How to Make Pine Needle Tea
This article explains how to harvest various kinds of pine needles and turn them into deliciously distinctive teas in your kitchen — in just a few minutes!
How to Make Shagbark Hickory Syrup at Home
This article describes how to harvest shagbark hickory bark sustainably to whip up a ridiculously tasty syrup at home.
Platte Clove Road Access in Winter
In winter, Platte Clove Road is closed at its eastern side. Here’s the alternate route to the Eastern Devil’s Path mountains and Kaaterskill High Peak.
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
Catskills | Taconics | Adirondacks
Latest Mountain Hiking Posts
All recent posts in chronological order
Catskill Mountains Happy Hikers Facebook Group
A new social group has launched on Facebook that provides a much-needed positive social hub for Catskills hikers.
Snowshoe Basics
The number of snowshoe options is overwhelming. Here’s a quick guide on what to look for, and where to get your first pair.
Storage Bins for Hiking Gear
I sorted my growing jumble of hiking gear as a fun weekend project. With all my regular hike gear in a single box, I don’t have to worry I’m overlooking or forgetting anything. I spend less time preparing — which means more time doing.
Trail Terms: Winter Lingo
Once the cold weather sets in, you’ll start to see and hear these winter trail terms online in forums and social posts. Here’s what they all mean.
How Cold is Too Cold to Hike?
January 2021 had some spectacularly cold weather in the Catskills, with wind chills dipping close to -40°F / -40°C at summits. But how cold is too cold? Here are 6 things you need to think about: weather, comfort, safety, frostbite, hypothermia, and gear.
New Red Hill Hiking Trail & Trailhead
The newly constructed Red Hill Fire Tower Trailhead is located in Ulster County on Denning Road in the Town of Denning is open for use.
Winter Day-Hike Essentials Checklist
Download this helpful PDF with explanatory notes and a handy winter day-hike essentials checklist.
Doubletop & Graham CLOSED PERMANENTLY!
Latest info for hiking Graham & Doubletop. Please read. Important changes are being instituted…
How to Make Pine Needle Tea
This article explains how to harvest various kinds of pine needles and turn them into deliciously distinctive teas in your kitchen — in just a few minutes!
How to Make Shagbark Hickory Syrup at Home
This article describes how to harvest shagbark hickory bark sustainably to whip up a ridiculously tasty syrup at home.
Twin Mountain via Jimmy Dolan Notch
This quick ascent to a gorgeous two-peaked Catskill ridge includes a fun, tricky rock scramble — and one of the truly great views in the Catskill Park.
Eagle Mountain from Seager
Not many people hike this way to Eagle but it’s the most beautiful route. The Seager Big Indian trail which passes along Dry Brook is uniquely challenging and magical.
Kaaterskill Falls via Kaaterskill Rail Trail – Upper Route
This is a short, super-easy hike to one of the most popular Catskills destinations. It includes views not seen by those who park closer to the falls, and is the perfect trail in winter for some easy snow-shoeing or cross country skiing.
Platte Clove Road Access in Winter
In winter, Platte Clove Road is closed at its eastern side. Here’s the alternate route to the Eastern Devil’s Path mountains and Kaaterskill High Peak.
Belleayre via Lost Clove
This challenging out and back begins with one of the steepest trails in the Catskills, passes over two sub-peaks and visits two lean-tos on the way to a ski resort with a scenic view.
Mill Brook Ridge via Kelly Hollow
This is the shortest route to Mill Brook Ridge’s summit over public land. It includes a full loop of Kelly Hollow, one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Catskills. A short-but-steep bushwhack connects the two locations.
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
