Hike Arizona Mountain from Stork’s Nest Rd

A quiet, steep and difficult hiking trail that grows more rewarding with every step you climb. It includes one of the truly great views in the Catskills.

Hike Length: 6.9 miles (11.10 km)

Total Ascent: 2,261ft (689m)

Intensity: Difficult Catskills Hike

Route Type: Out-and-Back

Includes: Blazed Trail

Parent Arizona

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trees, snow, boulders, moss

Steep climb to ridge

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 This is a steep, rugged out-and-back.

Hiking Trail Description

Arizona Mountain is a first-rate Catskill mountain that’s ridiculously under-hiked. It’s great example of how blindly following a list based on arbitrary statistics will, at some point, rob you of a much better time.

Arizona is just 93’ short of making the Catskills 3500 List yet, in terms of quality hiking experience, it towers over many of the classic peaks. I’d climb it any day over the likes of Bearpen.

So many people will never climb this wonderful peak because, “It’s not on the list”. I‘m so glad I did.

Two Great Routes (from the South)

Dutcher’s Notch sits at 2500’ between Arizona Mountain and Stoppel Point. There are two very different ways to get to this charming col.

From East Jewett in the west, the Colgate Lake Trail starts around 2300’ and glides calmly up the remaining 200’ of elevation to the notch over 4.3 miles. I’m looking forward to doing this very pleasant hike in the spring and summer.

From Stork’s Nest Rd on the eastern side of the Catskill escarpment, the Dutcher’s Notch Trail starts around 1100’. The hike up to the notch gains 1400’ over 1.9 miles. Twice as short as the Colgate Trail, but seven times steeper.

The parking lot on Stork’s Nest makes for one of the lowest elevation starts in the Catskills. 700’ of elevation gain per mile makes it a long steep climb, though not crushingly so.

Trailhead & Parking Area

In the photo below, my car is parked out of frame in a small lot to the left. A private road runs away from the lot to the east buy, if you stand looking at the trailhead signpost, the Dutcher Notch Trail is to your left, heading SSW past a white house.

Below you can see the gate, the home, and the public easement road heading uphill.

Trailhead sign
Trailhead signpost

After a short hike, you come to the trail register. Please sign in.

The trail crosses a small brook and heads gently uphill over very lumpy terrain.

trail register
Trail register and footbridge

Follow the yellow blazes, staying mostly on the left side of the trail.

lower trail
Lower Dutcher Notch Trail

The first mile is pretty dull but the second mile, once the trail turns and heads northwest, is high enough on the Catskill Escarpment that there are some nice views to the east.

And there are a lot of dramatic boulders on the other side of the trail.

upper trail
Upper Dutcher Notch Trail with thick escarpment ice

A little higher, and you’ll be able to see Arizona Mountain on your right. This is not Arizona’s summit, just its eastern ridge.

Arizona Mountain
Upper Dutcher Notch Trail, view of Arizona Mountain

Col

After 1.9 miles you arrive at the col. The signposts will give you distances — more or less accurate — to Stoppel Point, Colgate Lake and Blackhead.

Dutcher Notch signage
Dutcher Notch signpost

Climbing Arizona Mountain

Turn right and begin climbing Arizona. Follow the blue blazes now.

Right away, the terrain changes and becomes what I think of as classic Catskills mountain terrain: large exposed sedimentary boulders, moss, mixed woods of hemlock and birch, and winding trails.

boulders, moss, snow
The fun starts right away on Arizona
drunk trees
Tree party

This large diamond-shaped boulder, whose profile reminds me of Groot, is on the right side of the trail, not long before the rock tunnel at 2700’.

boulders, moss
I am Groot?
ice, boulder
Icicles

Rock Tunnel

This was a super fun discovery. Probably, these boulders have been sitting in this configuration for 13,000 years, since the end of the last ice-age. The formation looks like a dolmen, or the entrance to a Neolithic tomb

boulders, snow, moss
Super-fun boulder tunnel at 2700’

Bend and twist your way through this goodness…

boulder tunnel
Boulder tunnel — the only way up is through

Life advice: always stop and smell… the coyote poop. (It smells benign.)

boot, mircospikes, poop
Coyote Poop

Steep Section

Just below 3000’ is a very steep section. Mercifully, it’s pretty short.

trees, snow, boulders, moss
Steep climb to ridge

On the way up, looking over your shoulder, you can see screened views of Stoppel Point and North Mountain.

Eventually, you come up to a relatively flat section. If you’re only heading to Arizona, most of your day’s work is done. (If you’re pushing on to Blackhead, LOL…)

birch trees, snow
Birch trees in the flats

Scenic View

At around 3100’, just before the trail turns north, keep an eye out to your left for a long flat open area. Make your way down to it. It’s about 200’ off trail. Look for this tree and boulder…

tree, boulder
Scenic View

The view from here is spectacular. First you notice Stoppel Point and North Mountain. To your left are the eastern flats, looking out toward the Hudson River and the Southern Taconics.

mountains
Scenic View: Stoppel Point and North Mountain

To your right, you can see Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top…

scenic view
Wide View: West Stoppel Point, Kaaterskill High Peak, Round Top, Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf

Then, stretching in a clear line over West Stoppel Point’s long ridge, is almost the entire Devil’s Path: Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, Plateau, and Hunter. (The large lake is Lake Capra.)

Scenic View, Arizona Mountain
Wide View: Most of the Devil’s Path Mountain Range

This is a great place to eat lunch or hang out. Just make sure to leave no trace.

 Warning! There is a NO CAMPING sign at this location so please don’t camp out here — the environment is very sensitive to human wear and tear.

Final Push

Head north along the trail. There is one final incline to gain the long flat ridge of Arizona’s summit.

trees, snow
Final climb to Arizona’s summit

Once on top, you’ll pass two good escarpment lookouts on your right.

Finally, after 3.35 miles, you reach the summit of Arizona — which is quite reminiscent of the large flat col between Camel’s Hump and Thomas Cole.

There are no views but, about a mile to the north, you can see the summit of Blackhead.

snow prints and summits
Blackhead’s summit from Arizona’ summit
two summits
Blackhead’s summit from Arizona’ summit

If you’re heading back to your car, luckily, from here it’s all downhill.

Arizona was such a fun mountain to climb. Later this year, I plan to re-do it from the west (from Colgate Lake) and then continue on to Blackhead.

Similar Hikes

Arizona is a classic Catskill mountain that’s super under-hiked. If you’re seeking a little hiking solitude, Arizona is far quieter than many peaks in the area. It’s also a solid single-peak hike with long and short in-and-out options. And that great view makes it an excellent scenic Catskills hike too.

The parent mountain for this hike is Arizona.

If you do this hike, LMK how it went…

6 responses to “Hike Arizona Mountain from Stork’s Nest Rd

  1. Hiked Arizona yesterday for the first time based on your recommendation here. I didn’t see a single person. There’s a penetrating silence on that path. Breathtaking.
    I can envisage the peril of lots of wet leaves on this underhiked route. Thankfully the fallen leaf coverage wasn’t that deep yet and everything was bone dry. Really enjoyed it. 👍

  2. Yesterday morning started at Colgate Lake, then up to Arizona and Blackhead. The 4+ miles from the parking area to the Col was beautiful, flat but long (especially on the way out). Something like 14-15 miles all together.
    Thanks for the suggestion!

  3. I completed this hike on Satuday Oct. 24, 2020 adding Blackhead, Blackdome and Thomas Cole to the out/back.(13.2mi/4600′) WIthout the information posted on this website, I wouldve probably never have known about Arizona Mountain and more than likely walked right past the vast panoramic view it beholds. The initial ascent up Arizona was locked in the clouds and a soaking drizzle that didnt quit until basically reaching Thomas Cole. However, I was unfazed due to the promising forecast of clearing skies later in day that would afford me all of the views on the way back. I will add that because that trail does not see the foot traffic that say Blackdome/Blackhead receive, the recent leaf cover has accumulated to an ankle deep death trap on the steep slope of Arizona. I literally had to get in a squatting position and basically ski down it.(and i do hike with trekking poles, they were essentially useless on this one section of very slick trail.) Your trail description and gps coordinates of the trail head were spot on. Thanks for all the insightful info you provide that makes it possible for me and many others to link different, less traveled routes to the seldom hiked lower peaks.

    1. How fantastic! This makes me so happy to read. Yes, that steep section is very steep. Thankfully, it’s short but aye aye aye covered in wet leaves! I bet that slowed you down. What a great hike. Would love to copy that. 🙌

Your comments are welcome here…

Trailhead Info for this Hike

Small lot that doesn’t get a ton of use. At the trailhead sign, look left and hike toward toward the house. Stay on the trail.

Google Maps Location: 42.252606, -74.053525

The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead

Cell Service

Pretty good throughout as this is an escarpment route. My network is Verizon. YMMV.