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: 5
Moderate Lower Catskills (27)
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
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
Dry Brook Ridge 3465’
Western Catskills
Fully Trailed
A quiet Western Catskills gem capped with old growth forest.
No. of Entries: 1
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
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
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: 1
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: 1
Fire TowerFully 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: 1
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
Fully Trailed
Scenic
One of the most popular peaks in the Catskills, and a fire tower peak.
No. of Entries: 8
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
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