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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 along the steep and winding road.
Each year, Platte Clove Road is closed to traffic from November until late April or early May — 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 currently CLOSED.
Updates…
As of 5/11/23, according to the Town of Hunter Supervisor, Platte Clove is open.As of 11/21/23, the eastern side of Platte Clove Road was closed to-traffic Tuesday morningAs of 4/26/24, the town of Hunter is hedging its bets on exactly when the road will reopen for 2024. They are currently conducting extensive repairs. A tentative date for reopening has been set for mid-to-late-May.As of 5/22/24, the road was reopened by the Town of Hunter. Enjoy your hiking season!- As of 11/1/24, Platte Clove Road is closed for the winter season. It will be reopened in late April or early May 2025, depending on weather conditions.
Bookmark this page and check back for updates. You can also 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.
While Platte Clove Road is closed, here is the alternate route you need to get to the most popular hiking trailheads in the area…
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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Road opens May30,2024
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.