Hiking in Catskill Park
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Hiking in Catskill Park
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The Catskill Forest Preserve is a mountainous region in Southeastern New York State of public and private lands in Ulster, Greene, Delaware and Sullivan Counties - the "forest preserve" counties. Ninety-eight peaks over 3,000 feet high form an impressive skyline. Its blend of public and private lands is typical of large parks in Europe, where people and unique lands have coexisted for centuries.
The Catskill Forest Preserve is the state land within the Catskill Park. Since its creation in 1885, it has grown from 34,000 to almost 300,000 acres.Hiking opportunities abound in the Catskill Park. There are approximately 300 miles of marked, maintained hiking trails on public Forest Preserve land. Stewardship and development of these trails is shared by the New York State Forest Rangers and local chapters of hiking clubs such as the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference and the Adirondack Mountain Club. There are 35 Catskill peaks boasting heights greater than 3500ft elevation, and people who hike to the summits of each of these peaks earn membership in the Catskill 3500 Club.
Five Catskill peaks, Hunter, Overlook, Tremper, Balsam Lake, and Red Hill, have fire towers on their summits; remnants of an era gone by. The Catskill Fire Tower Restoration Project restored these towers, making them safe so that the excellent views and educational aspects of the towers can now be enjoyed by the public.
Both primitive and amenity camping opportunities abound in the Catskills. Primitive camping is allowed in the Wilderness and Wild Forest areas of the Catskill Forest Preserve, so long as you follow certain guidelines designed to protect sensitive summit forest communities and water quality of the streams. Wilderness camping rules include not camping within 150ft of a trail, stream, or pond, and not above 3500ft elevation except in winter.
Three-sided, roofed ‘lean-to’ shelters have been constructed on several Catskill backwoods trails. The NYSDEC maintains seven public campgrounds in the Forest Preserve; North/South Lake, Devils Tombstone, Kenneth Wilson, Woodland Valley, Mongaup Pond, Little Pond, and Beaverkill. These campgrounds have tent and trailer sites, restroom facilities, and other amenities varying by location. Numerous private campgrounds are scattered throughout the Catskills.
Be Prepared-Even on a day trip, take along a rain shell with a hood, a flashlight with spare batteries, a whistle, matches, map and compass, first aid kit, small tarp and extra, quick-energy food and water. Regardless of the season, dress in layers of non-cotton and wear sturdy hiking boots. Leave Word-Spell it out! Leave a copy of your itinerary and map with a responsible third party.
Winter Advisory
Winter wilderness travel requires added skills and precautions. Weather can vary greatly both from year to year and from valley to mountaintop. Be prepared to encounter snow, freezing rain and ice. Carry snowshoes and crampons.
Cotton is a poor choice for the back country. Wear wool or a synthetic material such as polypropylene, pile or thermax, which dries quickly and insulates even when wet.
Dress in layers and carry extra clothing, food and water and don't forget a hat! When planning a winter trip, stow a metal-edged shovel in your vehicle and allow for additional time should you need to either shovel in or out of a parking area. Not all DEC parking lots are maintained in the winter and drifts or plows can leave you stranded.Primitive Camping
Back country camping is allowed in most areas of the Catskill Preserve. Please see below for some of the rules for primitive camping. Information on DEC Campgrounds in the area is available on DEC's Camping page.
To protect back country resources, state law requires all campsites to be at least 150 feet from any road, trail or water source, except at sites designated by DEC. A designated site is either a lean-to or a campsite marked with a yellow "camp here" disc.
Camping is also prohibited above 3,500 feet in elevation from March 22 until December 20 each year to protect the fragile summit environment.
Groups-of 10 or more must obtain a camping permit from the area Forest Ranger before entering state land. In a wilderness area, group size is limited to a maximum of 12 individuals to protect the wilderness character of the area, especially the opportunity for other visitors seeking solitude. Larger groups can be accommodated in Wild Forest areas such as the nearby Balsam Lake Mountain or Sundown Wild Forests. Whenever possible use an existing designated campsite to lessen your impact.
Campfires-are permitted below 3,500 feet in elevation, but only dead and down wood may be used. In a designated campsite, use the existing fire ring and burn wood no larger than that which can be snapped in your hands-it's sure to be dead, dry and will burn down to ash. Never leave a fire unattended and make sure your fire is cold before breaking camp.
Bear Precautions-Using nylon cord, hang all food, garbage and toilet articles a minimum of 15 feet above the ground and an additional 10 feet from any adjacent tree trunks or overhead limbs and a distance of 150 feet from camp.
Keep a clean camp. Wastewater should be taken a minimum of 150 feet from any water source and gently sprayed into the underbrush as against pouring it into a sump hole. Cooking water should be strained of any food particles and treated in a similar fashion. This distributes rather than concentrates the dirty water, dispersing both the impact and related odors that attract wildlife. All food waste should be packed out.
Human Waste- If available, use the privy. If not, dig a "cat-hole" 6-8 inches deep, a minimum of 150 feet from any water source. Cover waste with soil and leaf litter. Minimize the use of toilet paper and burn or pack it out. When appropriate, use leaves instead. Treat feminine products as you would all other garbage and pack out as well.
Drinking Water- The department cannot ensure the purity of any water source. Giardia lamblia is a water borne parasite which can cause severe and prolonged intestinal disorder and has infected the water supply as a result of poor human sanitation habits. Boil all water for 2 minutes, filter or treat chemically.
If you Bring Your Pet- Your pet must be under your control at all times. When others approach, particularly small children and other animals, leash your dog. Keep your pet quiet. Remove droppings from the trail and camping areas.
Hiking Opportunities in Catskill Park
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