Catskill Outdoor Recreation Bulletin - September 16, 2021

This bulletin provides only the most recent notices. Check the Catskill Backcountry Information webpage for more detailed information on access, outdoor recreation infrastructure, and conditions.

Emergency Situations: If you get lost or injured; keep calm and stay put. If you have cell service, call 911 or the DEC Dispatch, 833-NYS-Rangers (1-833-697-7264).

Hike Smart by packing the proper gear. See our recommended packing list and safety tips.

Welcome to the Catskills

The Welcome to the Catskills webpage is the place to go if you are interested in learning more about the Catskills. It provides information about the Forest Preserve and conservation easement lands, outdoor recreation opportunities, and Leave No Trace. Be sure to check out the links to additional information and tips for recreating safely and minimizing your impacts on natural resources, recreational infrastructure, and other backcountry users in the Catskill Mountains.

Get There Green: Be a Friend of the Environment: September 2021

Take Part from September 20 through 26 during Climate Week to promote and celebrate green methods of transportation. Bike, walk, carpool, use mass transit, an electric vehicle, or another way to Get There Green. During this week, everyone is encouraged to use green transportation for as many trips as possible.

Recreation Highlight: @NYSDECAlerts

Planning an outdoor adventure this weekend? Follow @NYSDECAlerts on Twitter for real-time updates to help you prepare. @NYSDECAlerts provides updates for DEC-managed lands throughout New York State, including the Catskill Mountain Region.

Discover what parking areas are full before you arrive so you can move straight to your back-up location and get on the trail sooner. Check for special advisories or links to alternate hikes. Love our NY Lands by hiking responsibly and planning ahead with the help of the most up-to-date information.

Catskills Visitor Center

Stop by and see our total interior transformation with brand new exhibits about the Catskills. The CVC is currently open daily from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and our Fire Tower Steward is at the cab every weekend through Columbus Day. Please note: masks and social distancing are required on the property, regardless of vaccination status.

Contact the Catskills Visitor Center for more information: 845.688.3369 or info@catskillcenter.org.

For local trail conditions, visit the Catskills Visitor Center Trail Conditions webpage.

Hike Smart & Be Prepared

Before you hit the trail, check out DEC’s Hike Smart NY page to learn about safety, best practices, preparedness, and the Hiker Responsibility Code. Discover trails less traveled, and visit when trails may not be as busy.

Check the Weather: Check the National Weather Service for current conditions and forecasts for the locations where you plan to recreate. Check both daytime and nighttime temperatures. Expect conditions to be cooler and more exposed on mountain summits. 

Mountain Summits: Check the National Weather Service to prepare for summit weather conditions. 

Stay Dry with a Raincoat: The Catskills have been experiencing many thunderstorms this season. Always remember to pack your raincoat as rain can occur unexpectedly in the mountains, and it is much more comfortable to be dry while on the trail.

Catskill Region Daytime Highs ~ Mid-High 70s
Catskill Region Nighttime ~ Low 60's

Manage your time wisely: Be mindful of sunrise and sunset times, and plan accordingly. Start long hikes early to maximize sunlight hours.

Approximate Time of Sunrise: 6:37 a.m.
Approximate Time of Sunset: 7:12 p.m.

Recent Notices

Phoenicia- Mount Tobais Wild Forest

Volunteers from the New York New Jersey Trail Conference, DEC Forestry Staff, and Student Conservation Association Back Country Stewards teamed up last week to complete improvements to the pit privy at the Baldwin Lean-to on Tremper Mountain.

Peekamoose Blue Hole & Riparian Corridor

DEC has issued special regulations for the Blue Hole and Peekamoose Valley because of the huge increase in visitors. The purpose of these regulations is to increase public safety and reduce impacts to environmental resources. The regulations:

• Require visitors to obtain a permit for a $10 fee through Reserve America, consistent with fees for other recreation-oriented Day Use areas in the Forest Preserve;
• Each permit will be linked to a vehicle, and the permit must be displayed on/in the vehicle;
• Limit parking to designated parking areas only. Parking along the shoulder of the road is prohibited by the Town and is a Tow Away Zone;
• Users are required to use portable restroom facilities for human waste disposal and the dumpster for all other waste;
• The following are prohibited at the Blue Hole (limited use will be allowed at the nearby designated camping area only):
  • Except for the nearby designated camping area, the Blue Hole is only open to the public from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.
  • Camping
  • All fires (including charcoal fires, wood fires, gas grills, propane stoves or other portable stoves)
  • Use of portable generators
  • Alcohol
  • Glass containers
  • Coolers larger than 12" in any dimension
  • Radios and other audio devices
• Parking is limited to designated parking areas only. Parking along the shoulder of the road is prohibited by the Town and is a Tow Away Zone.

*Doubletop and Graham mountains, located in the town of Hardenburg, Ulster County, are no longer available for public use. This also includes the surrounding private lands. Local landowners have graciously allowed public access to these mountains and private lands for many years, however, they are no longer allowing access.   

If hiking from the Seager Trailhead on Dry Brook Road in the Big Indian Wilderness or the Drybrook Trailhead on Millbrook Road in the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest, only the parking areas and marked trails that traverse private property are accessible to the public until you reach the larger expanse of State Forest Preserve Lands. Please respect private property and stay on the marked trails in these areas until you reach the larger expanse of Forest Preserve Land.  

Catskills Visitor Center

The accessible trails at the Esopus Creek Fishing Access across the street from the Catskills Visitor Center has experienced damage during the recent flooding events. The trails were scoured by the overflowing Esopus Creek which also deposited several inches of thick, sandy mud over several hundred feet of the trail. Due to the damage, the trails at this location no longer meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) standards of accessibility. 

Slide Mountain Wilderness Area and Overlook Mountain Wild Forest

Trail counters are now installed at Giant Ledge and Overlook Mountain trailheads. Data from the counters provide an understanding of the amount of visitation these areas receive as well as help to establish sign-in rates at trail register locations.  

Sundown Wild Forest

Tahawus professional trail crew will begin working in Sundown Wild Forest on the Long Path reroute in mid-September.  

The Long Path currently includes a lengthy road walk traversing State Route 209, Lundy Road, Rogue Harbor Road, and Upper Cherrytown Road. This trail reroute traverses through several miles of the Vernooy Kill State forest as well as 6 miles of Catskill Forest Preserve lands within the Sundown Wild Forest. The Long Path at this location will be a DEC marked and maintained multi-use trail and will include the use of snowmobiles when conditions are appropriate for use.

Kaaterskill Wild Forest

The Molly Smith parking area on Route 23a in the Town of Hunter has been closed to improve visitor safety. Kaaterskill Falls can still be accessed from Laurel House Road, Schutt Road, or North South Lake Campground. You can find directions to these parking areas on DEC's website.

DEC Operations staff quickly responded to storm damage sustained during Tropical Storm Henri in late August. Among the repairs, the crew worked to fix a washout on the heavily trafficked Middle Pool trail at Kaaterskill Falls. 

Hunter-West Kill Wilderness

A bridge replacement project on the Diamond Notch Trail began in late July. DEC Operations staff will be replacing a foot bridge at the southern extent of the Diamond Notch Trail which was damaged during winter storm events in December 2020. The trail will be temporarily rerouted around the work area while the bridge is being replaced.

Leave No Trace

It’s that time of the year when the leaves begin to light up the forest and the heat gives way to the cool crisp air of fall. As you plan your leaf peeping adventures, check out these three tips on how to Leave No Trace while enjoying the fall foliage. 

1. Prepare for Changing Weather: Fall weather can be unpredictable and can change quickly. Plan for cool temperatures by bringing extra layers that will help you stay safe and warm. 
2. Keep an Eye on the Trails: As the leaves fall, expect trails to get covered making it harder to find your way. Plan your route ahead of time and pay attention to trail markers to avoid wandering off trail. Sticking to the trail will keep you safe and protect sensitive trailside plants and vegetation.
3. Enjoy the Colors Without the Crowds: Protect the quality of your experience by visiting destinations and viewpoints that are less popular or plan your visit during times that are not so busy.  

Love Our NY Lands - Catskills, Adirondacks, and All Across the State

There are tens of thousands of acres of State lands to visit and thousands of miles of trails across the state for hikers of all abilities, whether you want to hike the Adirondacks or take the family and friends out for a short excursion to a scenic view in the Catskill Park.

All New Yorkers and visitors should be able to access, enjoy, and feel welcome on state lands. These lands belong to all of us, our families, and our neighbors. While enjoying these shared spaces, be respectful of other visitors. Share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as you found them for others to enjoy.

All of us have a responsibility to protect State lands for future generations. Follow the Hiker Responsibility Code, practice Leave No Trace principles, and consider visiting trails less traveled.

Events

Cat’s Tail Trail Marathon: The Cat’s Tail Trail Marathon will take place on October 2nd. The Cat’s Tail Trail Marathon is an approximate 26-mile trail marathon through the Slide Mountain Wilderness beginning at Fox Hollow, traversing the Giant – Panther – Fox Hollow Trail to the Burroughs Range over Slide, Cornell, and Wittenberg mountains and then over Cross, Pleasant, and Romer mountains through Phoenicia.  

Catskill Visitors Center Nature Walk: Join us at the Catskills Visitor Center in Mt. Tremper, NY on National Public Lands Day, September 25 at 1:30 p.m. for an easy hike to learn about the trees, plants, and birds you might find in this region of New York. The walk will be just over 1 mile. Please register by emailing obernard@catskillcenter.org or by calling 845-688-3369.