The Lower Catskill Peaks

In the Catskills, lower does not mean lesser

There are so many incredible Catskills mountains under 3500’. Many are more challenging, and even more rewarding, than some of Catskills High Peaks.

For example, East Rusk is so much nicer than Rusk. And Mt Pleasant will give you one of the most stunning views in the Catskill Park. Meanwhile, Van Wyck offers one of the steepest and toughest climbs here.

In 2012, local hiking legend Alan Via published a deeply-researched book of 67 Catskills mountains under 3500’ called “Catskill 67, A Hiker’s Guide”. Incredible resource. Unfortunately, it’s currently out of print but you may be able to find a used copy online. I consult my copy regularly to deepen my appreciation of the Park.

The 3500 Club also regularly runs group hikes to the lower peaks and I encourage you to join those hikes as often as possible.

So many peaks, so few weekends…

Hardest Lower Catskills (1)


Van Wyck 3206’

 Southern Catskills

 Bushwhack

 Scenic

Remote and steep, Van Wyck rewards hikers with two “bear holes”, two plane wrecks, and a summit ledge to remember.

No. of Entries: 1


Difficult Lower Catskills (11)


Doubletop 3874’

 Central Catskills

 Private

Doubletop is no longer accessible to the public. It is private land. Trespassers will be prosecuted.

No. of Entries: 3


Round Top 3465’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Bushwhack

A small tricky peak with a large black bear population.

Coming Soon!


Arizona 3407’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Outrageously under-hiked peak that’s packed with classic Catskills terrain and a spectacular 180° scenic view.

No. of Entries: 2


Plattekill 3106’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Bushwhack

 Scenic

This tough bushwhack mountain has one of the truly great Catskills views — but you’ll have to fight for it.

No. of Entries: 4


Ashokan High Point 3086’

 Southern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Beloved peak with views of the Ashokan Reservoir and the Burroughs Range, blueberry heaths, and a plane wreck.

No. of Entries: 8


Samuels Point 2880’

 Central Catskills

 Bushwhack

 Scenic

Tough, short, prominent peak.

No. of Entries: 1


Mombaccus 2838’

 Southern Catskills

 Bushwhack

Punishing to hike, impossible to forget.

No. of Entries: 1


Samson 2825’

 Southern Catskills

 Bushwhack

Bushwhack mountain near Route 42 in Denning, NY. Source of Vernooy Kill.

No. of Entries: 2


Mount Pleasant 2800’

 Central Catskills

 Partially Trailed

 Scenic

A beautiful mountain that boasts what might be the most stunning vista in the Catskills.

No. of Entries: 4


Little Ashokan 2790’

 Southern Catskills

 Bushwhack

 Scenic

Little Ashokan’s summit is very beautiful. But this is a very sketchy bushwhack peak. For experienced mountain hikers only!

No. of Entries: 1


Ticetonyk 2510’

 Southern Catskills

 Partially Trailed

 Scenic

This steep, prominent mountain rewards hikers with incredible views of the Ashokan Reservoir and Burroughs Range.

No. of Entries: 6


Moderate Lower Catskills (28)


Graham 3868’

 Central Catskills

 Private

Graham is no longer accessible to the public. It is private land. Trespassers will be prosecuted.

No. of Entries: 3


East Rusk 3628’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Bushwhack

A far more interesting mountain than its taller sibling. Adding East Rusk to Rusk turns a dull climb into an excellent Catskills hike.

No. of Entries: 1


Camel’s Hump 3558’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

Varied terrain leads to a sweet summit with two solid views — and then it’s a short walk to Thomas Cole.

No. of Entries: 1


Dry Brook Ridge 3465’

 Western Catskills

 Fully Trailed

A quiet Western Catskills gem capped with old growth forest.

No. of Entries: 1


Mill Brook Ridge 3465’

 Central Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

The highest of the sub-3500’ Catskills, this scenic mountain ridge is trailed from its east and west sides. It can also be bushwhacked from Kelly Hollow.

No. of Entries: 3


Belleayre 3424’

 Western Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

A popular ski-resort mountain with two sub-peaks.

No. of Entries: 1


St. Anne’s Peak 3423’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Partially Trailed

St. Anne’s doesn’t get a ton of traffic. It’s equal parts tranquil and wild.

No. of Entries: 5


Haynes 3413’

 Central Catskills

 Fully Trailed

Often passed over on the way from Balsam to Eagle, or vice versa, Haynes offers gentle charms.

No. of Entries: 1


Richmond 3226’

 Northern Catskills

 Partially Trailed

 Scenic

Northern Catskill mountain with an unusual view

No. of Entries: 1


Giant Ledge 3214’

 Southern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

One of the most popular destinations in the Park. It has all everything the Catskills can offer — rocks, roots, gnarly trees — and a famously breathtaking view.

No. of Entries: 4


North Mountain 3190’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Super scenic. Home of the biggest and most popular state campground in the Catskills.

No. of Entries: 3


Burnt Knob 3177’

 Northern Catskills

 Partially Trailed

 Scenic

Quiet semi-trailed peak in the northern Catskills east of Windham High Peak. The summit is not trailed.

No. of Entries: 2


Mongaup 3174’

 Western Catskills

 Partially Trailed

A strange wooded mountain, lots of black cherry.

No. of Entries: 1


Beech 3119’

 Western Catskills

 Partially Trailed

A quiet, steep peak.

No. of Entries: 1


Acra Point 3098’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Beautiful mountain in the northeastern Catskills.

No. of Entries: 2


Rose 3078’

 Central Catskills

 Private

Nondescript peak on private property. Obtain permission to hike. The real draw, here, is to the south: Rochester Hollow.

No. of Entries: 1


Richtmyer Peak 2986’

 Northern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

Quietly wild mountain.

No. of Entries: 2


Hodge Pond 2984’

 Western Catskills

 Partially Trailed

A mundane hill that seems to attract lighting strikes!

No. of Entries: 1


Mount Hayden 2932’

 Northern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

A peaceful, ferny, deciduous peak among some of the quietest Catskills.

No. of Entries: 2


Mount Pisgah 2910’

 Northern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

Mysterious and historic.

No. of Entries: 2


Ginseng 2805’

 Northern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

Steep but hikeable, Ginseng (like close-by Mount Hayden) offers miles of peaceful, ferny mountain hiking.

No. of Entries: 2


Tremper 2730’

  Fire Tower

 Central Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

One of the five Catskills fire tower lookout mountains. Equally famous for its timber rattlesnakes.

No. of Entries: 5


Cross 2511’

 Central Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

A woodsy delight with an absolute gem of a scenic lookout.

No. of Entries: 3


Pakatakan 2450’

 Western Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

A quiet mountain with a beautiful view.

No. of Entries: 1


Perch Lake 2306’

 Western Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Beautiful, serene mountain with great views of the Pepacton Reservoir

No. of Entries: 1


Romer 2240’

 Central Catskills

 Fully Trailed

A quietly popular mountain with one of the loveliest trail sections in the Catskills.

No. of Entries: 3


Mount Guardian 2104’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

A steep mountain in Woodstock, also the site of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), the North American seat of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.

No. of Entries: 1


Vroman’s Nose 1240’

 Northern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Super sweet geologically fascinating small mountain.

No. of Entries: 1


Easiest Lower Catskills (7)


Huntersfield 3423’

 Northern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

A quiet, peaceful, mountain situated in spectacularly bucolic surroundings.

No. of Entries: 2


Stoppel Point 3420’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Mellow and beautiful, the long escarpment ridge of Stoppel Point is a delight to hike.

No. of Entries: 1


Overlook 3141’

  Fire Tower

 Northeastern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

One of the most popular peaks in the Catskills, and a fire tower peak.

No. of Entries: 9


Silver Hollow Notch & Edgewood 3009’

 Central Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Quiet, mellow, lovely, scenic. Two summits close together. Edgewood is the slightly lower southwestern peak.

No. of Entries: 2


Red Hill 2979’

  Fire Tower

 Southern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

A beautiful mountain, beautifully situated, with stunning fire tower views!

No. of Entries: 4


Blue Hill 2749’

 Western Catskills

 Private

Privately-owned mountain in the Western Catskills. Not open to the public.

No. of Entries: 1


South Mountain 2495’

 Northeastern Catskills

 Fully Trailed

 Scenic

Beloved peak for campers and Catskills hikers alike.

No. of Entries: 5