The Best Catskills Hiking Maps (Free & Paid Options)

If you’re looking for a Catskills hiking map, you’ve got several great options, from a printed map to throw in your backpack, or a digital map for your phone. Here are your best options.

I’ll quickly walk you through the best trail maps for the Catskills, how to access free GPS maps, and where to find a complete master map of Catskills hikes that links to detailed guides for each trail.

Best Paper Map: NYNJTC Trail Maps for the Catskills

If you’re hiking regularly in the Catskills, the Catskill Trails Map Set from the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC) is hands-down the best printed option available.

• Tear-resistant and waterproof
• Very high detail, including trail distances, elevation lines, lean-tos, parking areas, and scenic views
• Covers all major hiking regions: Slide Mountain Wilderness, Hunter-West Kill, Windham Blackhead, and more
• Includes the Long Path and Devil’s Path

These maps are made by the folks who build and maintain the vast majority of our trail network. They are the gold standard for navigating Catskills hiking trails.

Available as:

• A physical map set, the 2023 NYNJTC Catskills Map Set (via Amazon or NYNJTC)
• A digital download for use with mapping apps (like Avenza)

I carry both of these map sets on every Catskills hike. If you only buy one map for hiking the Catskills, make it this one.

Free GPS Catskills Hiking Maps

On Mountain-Hiking.com, every Catskills trail guide includes an embedded GPS map you can preview and follow:

• View route shape, trailheads, elevation profiles
• Zoom in/out and explore nearby trails
• Powered by GaiaGPS and fully interactive

You can find these Catskills trail maps on all the most popular hikes — like:

• Wittenberg Mountain
• Devil’s Path Traverse
• Overlook Mountain
• Slide Mountain

These GPS maps are free to view and don’t require any special software.

Master Map: Every Trail Guide in One Place

I’ve also created a master Google Map of all the Catskills hiking trails on this site, which includes:

• Pins for every major hike in the region
• Direct links to detailed trail guides
• Coverage of all Catskill 3500 peaks, family-friendly hikes, fire towers, and more

Offline Catskills Hiking Trail Maps & Apps

If you prefer navigating with your phone offline, here are some apps that work well in the Catskills:

• Gaia GPS – my top recommendation; most of my embedded maps are built with Gaia.
• Avenza Maps – works with NYNJTC digital maps
• AllTrails – popular and easy to use, though often less accurate

Just make sure to download your maps before heading out — cell service is limited in many parts of the Catskills.

Final Tips

Whether you’re looking for a printable Catskills trail map, an interactive GPS route, or a master map to plan your next adventure, there are so many really great tools available, and most are free.

If you’re not sure where to start, check out my master map of the Catskills and explore the trail guides linked from there.

• Always carry a paper backup map in case your phone dies or loses GPS signal.
• Trails in the Catskills can be poorly marked or overgrown, especially in shoulder seasons — having a reliable map makes a big difference.
• For challenging routes, pair your map with a detailed trail guide (like the ones on Mountain-Hiking.com) to avoid surprises.
• Once you’ve gained a little experience on the trails, you should absolutely learn to navigate with a compass — that how-to guide will walk you through the whole process, visually

Safe hiking!

Related Catskills Mountains Hiking Maps and Resources

• Catskill 3500 High Peaks List
• Easiest Catskill Hikes for Beginners
• How Windy is Too Windy to Hike?

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