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Each winter, from mid-November until the spring thaw, Platte Clove Road is closed to vehicles. A steel gate is locked in place preventing passage along the steep and winding road. So, is Platte Clove Road open?
Each year, Platte Clove Road is closed to traffic from November until late April or early May — or until weather permits and all seasonal repairs are complete.
If you know the road, you know why.
Is Platte Clove Road Open?
As of Nov. 1, 2024, Platte Clove Road is closed for the winter season.As of May 2, 2025, Platte Clove Road remains closed. I am not seeing any recent updates on the Town of Hunter website about a re-opening date.As of May 8, 2025, Platte Clove Road is now open, according to Hunter’s town supervisor.As of Nov. 8, 2025, Platte Clove Road is still open. (I drove down it tonight.) The town typically closes it mid-month or beforehand if there’s a major winter weather event.- As of Nov. 11, 2025, Platte Clove Road is closed for the winter season
Platte Clove Road is CLOSED UNTIL SPRING 2026
Bookmark this page and check back for updates. You can also get information about local road closures on the Ulster County Road Closures page.
Why is Platte Clove Road Important?
For Catskills mountain hikers, Platte Clove Road is often the quickest way to get to the Eastern Devil’s Path trailheads, and the trailheads for Kaaterskill High Peak and Huckleberry Point.
While Platte Clove Road is closed, here is the alternate route you need to get to the most popular hiking trailheads in the area…
Winter Directions to Platte Clove Road
Getting to the trailheads from Tannersville takes a little longer, but you can still get to all the places you love:
- Take the NY State Thruway to Exit 20 / Saugerties
- From Exit 20, turn right and take Route 32 heading north
- At 6 miles, stay left to switch to Route 32A (the road bends sharply left)
- At 8 miles, you’ll be at the traffic lights in Palenville
- Continue left on Route 32A through Palenville
- At 11 miles, you’ll pass the trailhead for Kaaterskill Falls at the hairpin turn
- Drive straight through Haines Falls
- At 14 miles you’ll get to Tannersville
- To bypass town, turn left (downhill) at South Main Street
- Follow this road down — it quickly becomes the western end of Route 16 / Platte Clove Road
- At 16 miles, turn sharply left
- At 19½ miles, you’ll come to Dale Lane which will bring you to Roaring Kill and the Roaring Kill Trailhead for Twin and Sugarloaf
- At 20½ miles, you’ll come to Prediger Road which acts as the trailhead for Indian Head and Twin mountains
- Finally, at 21¼ miles, you’ll arrive at Steenburgh Road which is the trailhead for Kaaterskill High Peak and Huckleberry Point
Timing: From I-87/Exit 20 to Platte Clove, this route adds about 15 minutes to your journey.
Phone Nav Issues
Apple Maps and Google Maps do not update Platte Clove Road’s status accurately. Your directions app may act like it’s closed when it’s open, or vice versa. To avoid disappointment, check this page before trying to use Platte Clove Road.
Awesome Winter Links
Read How to Winter Hike: The Essential Roundup
Grab your Winter Day-Hike Checklist — a free PDF download with all the gear you’ll need listed in one place
Read 12 Life-Changing Benefits of Winter Hiking
Read 27 Unbeatable Tips for Winter Hikes
Hiking The Catskills This Winter?
Make sure you read The 3 Best Ways to NOT DIE on a Hike
Keep an eye on my Catskills Trails Conditions page which becomes a handy resource once the cold season starts
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Still open. Drove down it last night.
Road opens May30,2024
Closed for the 2023/2024 winter season on November 21, 2023.
This is an awesome
Post and very helpful. Do you happen to know if the parking lot on prediger rd is accessible all winter?
Yes, that lot is plowed after storms — but it can take a while so I wouldn’t schedule a hike immediately after a big storm.