Town of Hunter Chamber of Commerce, Hunter, NY

Attractions - Hiking & Biking - Trail Descriptions

The Escarpment Trail

This trail system forms a continuous route from Kaaterskill Creek on Route 23A northerly to East Windham on Route 23, a total distance of 24 miles. It extends along the escarpments of both South and North Mountains with almost a continuous series of overlooks and bold cliffs 1000 feet above the deep gulfs of Kaaterskill Clove and the Hudson River Valley. Except in early spring, drinking water is not available, so it is advisable to carry adequate water supplies.

Route - Blue Markers

Miles	Trail Description - Blue Markers
0.00	Junction of Route 23A and Kaaterskill Creek. Trail leaves north side of highway and follows up stream through mixed hardwoods and high hemlocks.
0.35	Trail junction. Left on yellow spur to lower falls (0.05 miles). Follow blue markers to right and start upgrade.
0.65	Trail junction. Left on yellow markers to Scutt Rd. parking lot, and North Lake road. Continue on blue markers.
1.45	Trail junction. Left on yellow markers to North Lake road. Continue on blue markers
2.40	Water, except in dry seasons.
2.75	Blue trail meets old Kaaterskill road and follows it to the right 200 feet to junction. Turn sharp left up grade along laurel bordered road. (Road to right leads to Palenville, a part of the Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail network.)
3.15	Trail iunction. Left on red markers to Kaaterskill Hotel site and North Lake road. Follow blue marked trail to right.
3.70	Trail junction. Red marked trail to left to site of Catskill Mountain House. Keep right on blue marked trail along ledges.
3.90	Boulder Rock. Lookout in direction of Village of Palenville and Hudson Valley.
4.00	Trail junction. Red trail to left takes a short cut back to Escarpment Trail. Take blue trail to right for North Lake.
4.30	Catskill Mt. House site. See historical marker.
4.50	Parking lot North-South Lake Campground. Continue on blue markers along cliff edge.
4.80	Artists Rock. Excellent view of the Hudson Valley.
5.30	Stiff climb begins, yellow spur trail 0.10 mile to Lookout Rock and 0.25 miles to Sunset Rock
5.40	Newmans Ledge. Excellent view of the Hudson Valley.
6.30	Badman Cave or Rock Shelter Trail junction, Short cut via yellow trail to Mary's Glen and North Lake Campground. Continue on blue markers.
6.90	Trail junction. Left on red markers for Mary's Glen 1.1 miles, North Lake Campground.1.4 miles, and Haines Falls road 2.00 miles. Continue right on blue markers, a stiff scramble of 0.25 miles to North Point - spectacular views. (The above mentioned trail junction is the last turn back point to the campground.)
7.15	North Point (Elevation 3000 ft.). Continue on blue markers.
7.65	Summit North Mt. (Elevation 3180 ft.).
8.85	South side Stoppel Point.
9.00	Summit Stoppel Point. (Elevation 3420 ft.).
9.10	Start descent from top of Stoppel Point. Moderate down grade.
11.40	Yellow trail to right. 2.40 miles to Floyd Hawver road. Spring 0.35 miles down this trail on right side.
13.77	Summit of Blackhead Mt. (Elevation 3937 ft.). Trail junction, left on yellow markers for Black Dome and Thomas Cole Mts. Continue right on blue markers. Steep downgrade.
14.70	Trail junction. Left on yellow markers for Bataviakill leanto, 0.25 miles, Maple Crest road 1.80 miles. Continue on blue markers.
17.45	Summit Acra Point. (Elevation 3085 ft.).
17.95	Trail junction. Left on red markers for Maplecrest road 1.10 miles. Continue on blue markers.
20.91	Summit Windham High Peak (Elevation 3524 ft.).
22.98	Follow yellow spur trail to lookout.
23.04	Elm Ridge leanto.
23.05	Trail junction. Left on yellow markers 0.1 miles to spring and 1.6 miles to Maplecrest road. Continue on blue markers - down grade.
24.00	End of blue marked trail on Route 23 - three miles west of East Windham.

Route - Red Markers

Trails to Hunter Mt. Forest Fire Observatory

The summit of Hunter Mountain may be attained by four routes. These are known as the Becker Trail, Spruceton Trail, Shanty Hollow Trail and over the portion or the Indian Head-Hunter-West Kill Range Trail, beginning at Diamond Notch or near the Devil's Tombstone Campground. Hunter is the second highest of the Catskill peaks, having an elevation of 4040 feet and being eclipsed only by Slide Mountain.

Becker Trail
Spruceton Trail
Shanty Hollow Trail
Indian Head-Hunter-West Kill Mt. Range Trail

This trail, because of the rugged country which it traverses, is known as the "Devil's Path." The easterly section over the ridge of Indian Head, Twin and Sugarloaf mountains was first opened in 1930. The westerly continuation over Plateau and Hunter Mountains was opened in 1935. The trail follows the height of land on the range for almost its entire length and beautiful vistas of the Catskill region are enjoyed from numerous points along the way. The location of this trail precludes the possibility of a plentiful supply of water during the dry season and hikers are advised to carry a canteen.

Miles	Trail Description
0.00	Platte Clove road 1/2 mile west of New York City Police Camp. Turn south from highway following red markers on Prediger Road.
0.40	Cross East Branch Schoharie Creek. Automobiles can be driven to this point.
0.90	Trail forks, take left fork (red markers). Right fork (blue markers) leads to Jimmy Dolan Notch.(2.20 miles)
1.95	Trail joins old road from Platte Clove to Overlook and follows same to right.
2.05	Turn right on red markers leaving old Overlook road.
4.15	Summit Indian Head Mt. (Elevation 3573 ft.).
4.60	Jimmy Dolan Notch; trail junction, north on blue markers 2.70 miles to Platte Clove road 1/2 mile west of New York City Police Camp. For Twin Mt., follow red markers.
5.55	Summit Twin Mt. (Elevation 3640 ft.).
5.75	Lookout to the southwest.
6.10	Pecoy Notch, blue trail to right for Platte Clove road (1.9 miles), continue on red markers.
7.10	Summit Sugarloaf Mt. (Elevation 3800 ft.).
7.50	Spring left of trail. (Fails in extremely dry weather.)
8.05	Junction with Mink Hollow Trail, and Mink Hollow leanto. Right to Platte Clove - Tannersviile Road, 2.70 miles, and left on blue markers for Lake Hill, 5.9 miles. Straight ahead on red markers for Plateau and Hunter. Mt. Spring 0.25 miles north of the junction, 100 yards left of the trail.
8.20	Spring.
9.20	Plateau Mt. summit. (Elevation 3840 ft.).
11.65	Spring, left of trail. Spring fails in extreme dry weather.
12.20	Spring right of trail, except in extreme dry weather.
12.45	Highway at Stony Clove Notch. Devils Tombstone Public Campground. For Hunter Mt., cross road and dam and continue on red markers.
14.60	Trail forks. Devil's Acre leanto and spring 300 ft. from fork on red trail. Right trail (yellow markers) leads to blue trail junction (1.35 mailes) for Hunter Mt.and Forest Fire Observatory (Elevation 4040 tt.). Take left trail (red markers) to West Kill Mt.
15.10	Lookout to south and southwest.
16.60	Diamond Notch, junction with blue trail. Trail to right leads to Spruceton road (1.10 miles). Take trail left for 100 ft. across bridge. Red trail goes right off of road and along stream. Blue trail (left) leads on to Diamond Notch leanto and Lanesville. (Falls under bridge are known as Diamond Notch Falls.)
16.85	Start of steep climb.
17.00	Spring.
17.13	Trail hits old road with steady climb.
17.45	Trail leaves old road. Steep grade.
17.79	Top of West Kill Mountain's east ridge.
17.96	Good rock ledge to get out of the rain.
18.73	Buck Ridge lookouts. Good views to the north, south, and east.
18.83	West Kill Mountain's summit. (3880 ft.)
18.93	Spring on right side of trail.
21.84	Swamp in Mink Hollow; between North Dome and West Kill Mts. Spring on right side of trail.
23.59	Junction and end of trail at Spruceton road.

Old Overlook Road Trail

Indian Head - Hunter - West Kill Mt. Range Trails

This trail because of the rugged country which it traverses, is known as the "Devil's Path." The easterly section over the ridge of Indian Head, Twin and Sugarloaf mountains was first opened in 1930. The westerly continuation over Plateau and Hunter Mountains was opened in 1935. The trail follows the height of land on the range for almost its entire length and beautiful vistas of the Catskill region are enjoyed from numerous points along the way. The location of this trail precludes the possibility of a plentiful supply of water during the dry season and hikers are advised to carry a canteen.

North Lake Trails

The trail system in the vicinity of North Lake State Campgrounds offers some great hiking with spectacular views. However, there is a fee for using the area during summer months if you park in the North Lake parking lots. Many of the trails, including a section of the The Escarpment Trail, overlook the Palenville and Kaaterskill Clove areas.

Jimmy Dolan Notch to Platte Clove Road Trail
Platte Clove Road to Pecoy Notch Trail

Mink Hollow Trail

The Mink Hollow trail, extending from Lake Hill on the south to the Platte Clove highway on the north, gives access to a large tract of state land lying on Sugarloaf, Twin, Indian Head and Plateau Mountains.

Route

Diamond Notch Trail

This trail was developed during the 1937 season primarily as a ski trail from the Stony Clove road (Route 214) near Lanesville to the Spruceton road near it's junction with the old Spruceton - Hunter road.

Route