Catskill Outdoor Recreation Bulletin

October 2019

Welcome to our monthly Catskill Newsletter. Here you will find useful information about a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities in the Catskill Mountains, including events, trail updates and advisories. Enjoy!

Have a safe and enjoyable outdoor recreational experience on the lands and waters of the Catskills. Do your part to properly plan and prepare for your outdoor adventure. Minimize the impact on the mountains and forests, rivers and streams, ponds and lakes, and the wildlife of the Catskills. Together we can preserve these lands for future generations to come.

Emergency Situations: If you get lost or injured; keep calm and stay put. If you have cell service, call the DEC Forest Ranger Emergency Dispatch; (518)-408-5850.

Check the Backcountry Information for the Catskill web pages for more detailed information on access, outdoor recreation infrastructure, and conditions for those planning to recreate in the Catskills. Check mountain weather conditions before heading out this weekend.

Packing the proper gear for a hike is very important, and you should be prepared to encounter all conditions. See our recommended packing list and safety tips. Watch DEC's HikeSmartNY video for more.

Weather forecasts and conditions can and do change quickly. Check the current National Weather Service Forecast, and be prepared for the forecasted conditions, or change your plans.

Catskills Visitor Center

Visit the Catskills Visitor Center on State Route 28 in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County. This Catskill Mountain visitors center is operated by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, an Arkville, NY-based nonprofit, in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Whether you're just passing through or here to stay for the fall, make us your first stop when you arrive in the Catskills - our friendly staff is here every day with all the info, maps & advice you need to plan your best Catskill adventure! From exhibits to nature trails and community events - there's something for everyone at the Catskills Visitor Center, and visitors and residents alike will find new ways to connect with the nature, history and culture that makes this region so unique.

Plan Ahead

Check weather and trail conditions, regulations, and advisories before you travel. Have an alternative plan ready to ensure you can make the most of your time in the Adirondacks.

• Research your planned route ahead of time and bring a map with you. Leaves are beginning to fall and trails are becoming covered making them more difficult to follow. Keep your head up while hiking to remain aware of trail markers and be sure to know where trail junctions are along your route.
• Active Wildlife: Fall is an important time for wildlife as they rush around preparing for winter by storing food, building shelters, or making long migrations. Give wildlife their space. Disturbing them can have serious impacts on an animal’s ability to survive the winter. Be alert on roadways for active moose and deer.
• Essentials for Fall Hikes
  • Waterproof hiking boots with wool socks
  • Warm layers to prevent hypothermia including hat and gloves
  • Wind protectant layer for open overlooks and summits
  • Headlamp with extra batteries- even if you plan to be down in the daylight
  • Plenty of food and water
  • Thermos of hot cocoa, coffee, tea, or soup to warm up or in case of emergencies
  • First aid kit
  • Emergency essentials you should always have in your pack:
    • Space blanket
    • Matches and fire starters
    • Pocket knife
    • Para cord or rope
    • Iodine tablets or water filtration system
    • Extra batteries

Events

Take the Catskill Fire Tower Five Challenge

For nearly a century, observers watched the forests of New York State--including the Catskill and Adirondack forest preserves-- from more than 100 fire towers perched atop the highest peaks, searching for the dangerous, telltale signs of forest fires.

You can experience these spectacular views from the top of five fire towers by taking the Catskills Fire Tower Five Challenge. Climb all five towers in the Catskill Park, take a selfie at each tower at the designated sign, and submit to have a chance to win!

DEC’s Hike With Us

The Catskills include 287,500 acres of state land (Forest Preserve) and are filled with endless opportunities for adventure, including hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, paddling, and snowmobiling. With a unique mixture of public and private lands, history, culture, art, and proximity to New York City, the Catskills make an ideal mountain escape.

Catskills Lark in the Park 2019
From hiking, to paddling to cycling; and from natural history, to human culture, to stewardship service; the Lark offers everyone opportunities to live and learn in and about nature. There could be no more appropriate place for this celebration than the Catskills. We hope you will join us.
To find out how to participate in an event, visit the Catskills Lark in the Park All Events-List.

Catskills Visitor Center Events:

Stargazing

Friday, October 11, 2019 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 Rte. 28, Mt. Tremper, NY

Join Catskill Center staff for a tour of the fall night sky. Enjoy some warm refreshments while taking a look through a telescope! A Telescope is provided. Please feel free to bring your own if you have one. To register and for more information, please visit the Catskills Lark in the Park website. 

Catskill Mountain Kids- Fall Session
Saturday October 12, 19, & 26
11 a.m.- 12 p.m. at the Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 Rte. 28, Mt. Tremper, NY

Stay tuned for details on this week’s program! Catskill Mountain Kids is a year-round weekly daytime program series that celebrates the nature, history and culture of the Catskills. Each session will include some focused learning time, hands-on activities, and outdoor exploration. The program is geared for ages 4-7 but all are welcome. Please dress for the weather/being outside and the possibility of getting messy.

Halloween Invasive Species Pull
Saturday, October 26, 2019
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 Rte. 28, Mt. Tremper, NY

Highlighted Hike- Kelly Hollow

Trailhead parking lot is located on Mill Brook Road, 5.5 miles east of the junction of Mill Brook Road and the NY City Road (south side of Pepacton Reservoir). From this trailhead, you can take a short loop, 2.0 miles/1.5 hours or extend the hike to the longer loop, 3.8 miles/3 hours, passing by a lean-to and a beaver pond. The trail includes many interesting features including a scenic waterfall, beautiful streams, ponds, and a lean-to for camping. For more to do in Ulster County after your hike, check out I Love New York's guide.

General Conditions/Notices

Fall in the Catskills

• It’s a beautiful time of the year to get out into the Catskills. For those who are looking to do some leaf peeping, be sure to check out the fall foliage report.
• Catskill nights and mornings are getting cold. Temperatures are dropping to the 40s. Start your morning hike in warm layers, and pack extra warm layers to prevent hypothermia should an unexpected hike down in the dark or overnight in the woods happen. Higher elevations will be colder throughout the day as well. Campers should be aware of these temperature drops, and pack warm clothes and sleeping bags rated for colder weather.
• Campers: The ground is getting colder with the dropping temperatures. It’s time to start using sleeping pads and cold temperature rated sleeping bags. For extra warmth, try filling up a Nalgene water bottle with hot water right before bed and tucking it in your sleeping bag overnight. Be sure to pack warm layers like a winter hat and gloves for those chilly nights and mornings.
• Colder Temperatures: Daily temperatures are getting colder which means temperatures on summits, in the mornings and in the evenings, can be near freezing and frosty. Wear warm layers, and pack extra clothes to stay dry and prevent hypothermia. Pack a windbreaker, hat and gloves to help keep you warm when on exposed overlooks and summits.
• Prevent Hypothermia: Dress properly, stay dry, and add or remove layers to regulate your body temperature. Carry plenty of food and water. Eat, drink and rest often. Being tired, hungry or dehydrated makes you more susceptible to hypothermia. Pack extra non-cotton, warm and wind protectant layers including hat and gloves for summits.
• Thunderstorm Safety: Thunderstorms can pop up even if they are not forecast.
  • Avoid summits, water surfaces, and other open areas during thunderstorms.
  • As soon as you are first aware of an approaching thunderstorm, move to lower elevations, head to shore, and seek shelter. 
• If caught outside in a thunderstorm, find a low spot away from tall trees, seek an area of shorter trees and crouch down away from tree trunks.
• Mountain Summits: Check the National Weather Service  to prepare for the conditions
• Fall weather can be unpredictable and colder than you expect.
• Fire Danger: Low, throughout the Catskills. Check the Fire Danger Rating Map.

General Information

Hiking

• Stream crossings can be tricky. They may be impassable altogether. Pay attention to the weather. Low water levels in the morning can make crossing easy but can quickly become treacherous or impassible with summer storms.
• Check conditions and plan alternative routes to avoid these crossings.
• Do not try to cross through cold, high, fast flowing waters. Stay where you are and call for assistance.
• DEC encourages the use of bear-resistant canisters and other practices to avoid negative encounters with bears throughout the Catskills.
• Check out these Catskill Hikes if you are interested in a summer adventure!

Hunting Season

Fall Turkey Season opens October 19 and goes through November 1.
Early bowhunting for deer is open from October 1- November 15.
The early bowhunting season for black bears opened October 1, followed by the regular firearms season beginning Nov. 16. Check out this useful information on bear hunting seasons.

Practice Leave No Trace

Follow proper trail etiquette to maintain minimal impact on the environment and the natural resources of the Catskills, as well as ensure an enjoyable outdoor experience for all visitors by following the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace.

Leave Space for Wildlife
Autumn is an important time for wildlife. Animals use this time to prepare for the winter by storing food and building shelters, for example. Disturbing wildlife during this sensitive time can affect an animal’s ability to survive the winter. Do your best to respect wildlife by observing them from a distance and allowing them access to food, water, and other things they may need.

Enjoy the leaf peeping while avoiding the crowds
Large crowds can put added stress on our shared outdoor areas. We can reduce the strain on these places by doing our part to spread out the crowd. Explore less visited fall hikes and viewpoints or consider visiting areas at times when they are less busy.

Recent Notices

Notices below reflect recent changes in conditions and recreation infrastructure work completed by DEC and its partners. Check the Backcountry Information for the Catskills web pages for more detailed information.

• The Upper Esopus Fire Tower is officially open to the public! Swing by the Catskills Visitor Center on Rt. 28 in Mt. Tremper today.
• Pecoy Notch Trail to Twin Mountain summit on the Devils Path Trail in the Indian Head Wilderness Area is temporarily closed due to vandalism of the steel rungs. It has created a safety hazard for visitors utilizing this section of the trail. Visitors may still access the summit from the east utilizing the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail from Prediger Road or via the Devil's Path from Indian Head Mountain.
• Expansion of Upper Cherrytown Parking area is complete. Construction is finished.
• Kaaterskill Falls
  • Stick to the trail and avoiding hiking near cliff edges.