Sunrise

WARNING: sunrise hikes are super-addictive. Yes, it sucks to get up at 3am but, I swear, if you do one you’ll want to do 100 more.

Benefits of Sunrise Hikes

It’s unbelievably special to watch the sun come up from a mountain summit. And sunrise hikes have three big benefits which directly benefit both you and the Catskills:

1. They help you avoid people — perfect for pandemics!
2. They help you avoid the worst heat of the day — great for summer hikes;
3. They help relieve congestion at popular destinations — a major problem for hotspots like Overlook and Giant Ledge.

Planning Your Sunrise Hike

Sunrise hikes do require additional planning and gear. At the very least, you‘ll need a headlamp — with extra batteries, just in case. And make sure to leave your hike plan and emergency numbers with somebody reliable.

You can read more planning and prep tips in my How to Shoot Sunrises post.