Moderate Catskill Peaks
These moderate peaks are suitable for hikers who are able to hike for at least four hours. If you’re prepared to hike, and have some experience, these peaks offer years of excellent all-season fun.
Hiking With Doggo
Most of the mountains on this page are suitable for dogs, though your dog(s) should always be leashed and kept close. A few have routes that might require a lift for your dog, for example up a tricky ledge. Here’s a great read on how to hike your dog safely.
Moderate Catskills (37)
Fire TowerFully Trailed
Scenic
A massive and vast mountain. Just so much hill. The fire tower at the summit offers an excellent 360° view.
No. of Entries: 8
Thomas Cole 3953’
Northeastern Catskills
Fully Trailed
Serene and aloof, Thomas Cole is surrounded on both sides by beautiful, varied terrain.
No. of Entries: 1
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
Table 3825’
Southern Catskills
Fully Trailed
The trail hikes to Table from either direction are some of the loveliest in the Catskills.
No. of Entries: 4
Peekamoose 3819’
Southern Catskills
Fully Trailed
Scenic
Contents include one massive erratic boulder at the summit, a solid view of points Ashokan, and a really wonderful pair of lookouts that take in Van Wyck mountain and surrounding lands
No. of Entries: 4
Southwest Hunter 3753’
Northeastern Catskills
Partially Trailed
Canister
The most straightforward Catskill bushwhack. It’s practically a straight line to the summit.
No. of Entries: 5
Panther 3724’
Southern Catskills
Fully Trailed
Scenic
Panther Mountain offers excellent hiking trails over varied terrain, an enormous boreal summit, and two wonderful scenic lookouts.
No. of Entries: 5
Big Indian 3699’
Southern Catskills
Partially Trailed
Canister
A trailed ascent over varied terrain. A handful of stream crossings. And a super-short bushwhack to the summit. This is a good mountain for adventurous families.
No. of Entries: 2
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
Balsam 3607’
Central Catskills
Fully Trailed
Balsam Mountain has beautiful hollows and excellent terrain, a fun off-trail summit marker, and a fantastic lookout.
No. of Entries: 3
Eagle 3583’
Central Catskills
Partially Trailed
Canister
Surrounded by extremely pleasant terrain, Eagle boasts the shortest “bushwhack” you’ll ever do.
No. of Entries: 2
Indian Head 3573’
Northeastern Catskills
Fully Trailed
Scenic
Still my favorite Catskill mountain. It has so much to recommend it. Pair with Twin Mountain for an absolutely amazing day hike in the Catskills.
No. of Entries: 5
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
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
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