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Rusk

Steep, steep, steep but a good candidate for your first bushwhack hike. A little boring. (Add East Rusk for a much better time.)

Peak Details

Height: 3,686ft (1,124m)

Range: Northeastern Catskills

Level: Difficult

Scenic: No/Low

Trail Type: Bushwhack

Canister: Yes

Rusk Hiking Trails & Hikes

Rusk & East Rusk

The very steep bushwhack up the south side of Rusk is never a ton of fun. But Rusk’s summit is lovely and, if you hike over to East Rusk, your day just gets lovelier.

Like me, if you’ve never been on a bushwhack hike—a hike without a trail—the thought of wandering into the woods with zero guide-rails seems completely intimidating. The best thing to do, here, is to join a group hike, or hook up an experienced pal who can show you the ropes.

Seasonal Notes for Rusk

Summer & Fall

Allow extra time in the warmer months to navigate Rusk’s famously thick nettle stands. Clothing can help but the terrain is very steep and uneven, so it’s easy to take an extra-painful tumble. Pack Benadryl and if alcohol swabs are part of your hiking kit, keep a few handy in your pocket; they’re pretty good at clearing the worst of the sting.

Rusk Topography

Summit Forecast: Rusk

The page URL below shows the weather at Rusk’s summit for the next six days.

If a foreacast for a peak is not directly available, this page may display a link to a nearby location.

https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Rusk-Mountain/forecasts/1121

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