Best Hikes
The Best Catskills Hiking Trails & Hikes
This hand-curated selection of the most rewarding hikes you can do in the Catskill Park combines the best of the High Peaks, the best of the lower peaks, the best hiking trails, the best bushwhacks, and the best views.
Below, you’ll find a mix of hiking trails and routes that cross a variety of terrain. Most of the hikes are fully trailed, a few are bushwhacks. Some you can tackle solo. Others should definitely be undertaken with a partner or as part of a group hike.
However you plan to hike the Catskills, this list guarantees an awesome time, every time.
Hike Sugarloaf & Twin from Roaring Kill
Any hike that includes Twin Mountain is a great hike. From either side, Twin offers some the funnest ascents in the Catskill Park. But the western side of Twin, with its steep talus field and a section of technical open rock face, is perhaps the toughest 0.7 mile you’ll hike on any Catskill trail.
Hike Friday, Balsam Cap & B25 Crash Site from Moonhaw
If you want a long, rewarding untrailed hike, this is it: some of the toughest miles you can do in the Catskills. This track shows my preferred route up Friday Mountain. Take a minute to review the main Friday Mountain page which describes the two main approaches: straight up the ridge-line or via the woods roads route.
Hike Kaaterskill High Peak & 2 Plane Wrecks
KHP’s summit is a Catskills classic with a spectacular view from Hurricane Ledge. This route takes in two eerie plane wrecks, and there is much to see on the long trek in and out. This a tough, muddy, rewarding hike.
Hike Table & Peekamoose from Denning
I was not prepared for how much I would fall in love with this hike. I’d heard both summits were low on scenic views so my plan was to just check both peaks off my 3500 list and move on. Wrong. So wrong. 100% dead-ass wrong.
Hike Blackhead & Black Dome from Big Hollow via Lockwood Gap
An outstanding double-bill that combines an epic view of Black Dome from Blackhead with an epic view of Blackhead from Black Dome. This is one of my favorite hikes in the Catskills.
Hike Wittenberg & Cornell from Woodland Valley
This is a long and tiring but incredibly rewarding hike. This hike was also memorable because my buddy and I met two hikers from New Jersey who got into serious trouble the same day, kicking off a massive rescue response.
