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Each winter, from mid-November until the spring thaw, Platte Clove Road is closed to vehicles. A steel gate is locked in place preventing passage up the steep, winding road.
Platte Clove Road is closed to traffic from November 15 until April 15 — or until weather permits and all seasonal repairs are complete. (If you know the road, you know why.)
Is Platte Clove Road Open or Closed?
Platte Clove Road is NOW CLOSED for the 2023/2024 winter season.
Updates…
As of 11/15/22 Platte Clove Road is CLOSED for the winter season.As of 4/20/23 Platte Clove Road remains slosed. According to the Town of Hunter, the tentative reopening date is May 15, 2023.As of 5/11/23 According to the Town of Hunter Supervisor, Sean Mahoney, Platte Clove is open.- The eastern side of Platte Clove Road was closed to thru-traffic Tuesday morning, Nov. 21, 2023
You can get information about local road closures on the Ulster County Road Closures page.
Why is Platte Clove Road Important?
For Catskills mountain hikers, Platte Clove Road is often the quickest way to get to the Eastern Devil’s Path trailheads, and the trailheads for Kaaterskill High Peak and Huckleberry Point.
When Platte Clove Road is closed, here’s the alternate route you need…
Winter Directions to Platte Clove
Getting to the trailheads from Tannersville takes a little longer, but you can still get to all the places you love:
- Take the NY State Thruway to Exit 20 / Saugerties
- From Exit 20, turn right and take Route 32 heading north
- At 6 miles, stay left to switch to Route 32A (the road bends sharply left)
- At 8 miles, you’ll be at the traffic lights in Palenville
- Continue left on Route 32A through Palenville
- At 11 miles, you’ll pass the trailhead for Kaaterskill Falls at the hairpin turn
- Drive straight through Haines Falls
- At 14 miles you’ll get to Tannersville
- To bypass town, turn left (downhill) at South Main Street
- Follow this road down — it quickly becomes the western end of Route 16 / Platte Clove Road
- At 16 miles, turn sharply left
- At 19½ miles, you’ll come to Dale Lane which will bring you to Roaring Kill and the Roaring Kill Trailhead for Twin and Sugarloaf
- At 20½ miles, you’ll come to Prediger Road which acts as the trailhead for Indian Head and Twin mountains
- Finally, at 21¼ miles, you’ll arrive at Steenburgh Road which is the trailhead for Kaaterskill High Peak and Huckleberry Point
Timing: From I-87/Exit 20 to Platte Clove, this route adds about 15 minutes to your journey.
Bonus: You’ll be driving through Palenville and Tannersville where there are lots of places to enjoy great food in The Catskills.
Phone Nav Issues
Apple Maps and Google Maps do not update quickly the Platte Clove Road closure status. They’ll route you the wrong way until their data catches up, which can be weeks after the fact.
To avoid disappointment, check this page often and use the alternate route until you hear the road is open for sure.
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Awesome Winter Links
Read How to Winter Hike: The Essential Roundup
Grab your Winter Day-Hike Checklist — a free PDF download with all the gear you’ll need listed in one place
Read 12 Life-Changing Benefits of Winter Hiking
Read 27 Unbeatable Tips for Winter Hikes
Hiking The Catskills This Winter?
Make sure you read The 3 Best Ways to NOT DIE on a Hike
Keep an eye on my Catskills Trails Conditions page which becomes a handy resource once the cold season starts
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Closed for the 2023/2024 winter season on November 21, 2023.
This is an awesome
Post and very helpful. Do you happen to know if the parking lot on prediger rd is accessible all winter?
Yes, that lot is plowed after storms — but it can take a while so I wouldn’t schedule a hike immediately after a big storm.