Catskill Outdoor Recreation Bulletin

March 2022

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 for the spring season.

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.

Catskills Visitor Center

The Catskills Visitor Center is open every day except Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. with all new interactive exhibits. Stop by for a visit before your next adventure. Have your questions answered, get trip planning advice, or pick up maps and local information and more! 

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.

New York State Outdoor Burn Ban

The outdoor burn ban is in effect from March 16 - May 14. Open burning is prohibited in NYS, with several exceptions:

• Camp fires or any other outdoor fires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length, width or diameter are allowed;
• Small cooking fires are allowed;
• Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires are allowed. Disposal of flags or religious items in a small-sized fire is allowed, if it is not otherwise prohibited by law or regulation;
• Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated or unpainted wood can be burned;
• Fires cannot be left unattended and must be fully extinguished.

Open burning is the single greatest cause of wildfires in NYS. Since the spring burn ban was implemented in 2009, the number of wildfires has decreased by more than 40%. For more information on the burn ban, please visit DEC’s website.

Recreation Highlight – Early Spring Conditions  

Persistent snow and ice: Weather conditions on mountain summits can be significantly different from that at trailheads or in the valleys. Some snow and ice persist at higher elevations. Keep in mind that weather and trail conditions can change rapidly, especially during the changing seasons. Plan and prepare accordingly.

Mud season: Please travel and camp on durable surfaces in order to prevent erosion. The goal of travel in the outdoors is to move through natural areas while avoiding damage to the land or waterways. Understanding how travel causes impacts is necessary to accomplish this goal. Travel damage occurs when surface vegetation or communities of organisms are trampled beyond recovery. The resulting barren area leads to soil erosion and the development of undesirable trails.

Mountain Biking: There are many great opportunities for mountain biking in the Catskills. Spring has sprung but remember, the trails are in transition meaning they are more susceptible to erosion and trail widening. Please do your best to avoid riding muddy, wet or icy trails. When encountering patches of mud or ice, ride through the center of the trail to avoid damaging trail side plants and contributing to potential impacts to the trail.  

Snowmelt and rain can make stream crossings tricky. Be sure to check the local trail conditions before heading out on your adventure. Avoid stream crossings in the event of high, fast moving water.

2022 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge

The 2022 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge, designed to highlight the world-class tourism destinations and recreational opportunities in New York's Hudson Valley, is underway. Visitors are challenged to hike each of the six fire towers in Catskill Park and submit information about their visit at any time during the year to earn recognition and prizes.

The 2022 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge encourages experienced hikers to visit the region's five historic fire towers located on Balsam Lake Mountain (Hardenburgh), Hunter Mountain (Hunter), Overlook Mountain (Woodstock), Red Hill Mountain (Denning), and Tremper Mountain (Shandaken), as well as a new sixth fire tower that was opened in the Catskills in the fall of 2019. The Upper Esopus Fire Tower is located at the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center in Mt. Tremper and allows all visitors who may not otherwise be able to undertake the challenging hike of several miles to experience a fire tower on the high peaks in the Catskills.

To participate in the challenge, hikers must hike to all six DEC-owned fire towers in the Catskills between Jan. 1, and Dec. 31, 2022. Once completed, participants submit a log of their completed hikes along with a favorite photo to the Challenge email address: CatskillsChallenge@dec.ny.gov or via mail. Entries must be postmarked by Jan. 7, 2023. Participants that complete the challenge will receive a letter, commemorative 2022 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge patch, and a one-year subscription to DEC's Conservationist magazine, currently celebrating its 75th year in circulation. Upon completion, finishers will also be able to download a customizable certificate and will be eligible to win hiking accessories after the challenge period is closed.

For more information visit the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge webpage.

Love Our NY Lands

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. Learn more about how you can Love Our NY Lands.

General Notices

Before you hit the trail, check out DEC’s Hike Smart NY webpage 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.

Catskill Region Daytime: Mid-High 40s
Catskill Region Nighttime: High 20s-mid 30s

Manage your time wisely: Keep in mind, it gets dark early. Be mindful of sunrise and sunset times, and plan accordingly. Start long hikes early to maximize sunlight hours, and always bring a headlamp in case you are out longer than expected.

Approximate Time of Sunrise: 6:51 a.m.
Approximate Time of Sunset: 7:13 p.m.

Recent Notices

Phoenicia – Mt. Tobias Wild Forest – The top cab of the Tremper Mountain Fire Tower has been closed and locked for the winter. Visitors can still climb the tower to the platform just below the cab.  

Kaaterskill Wild Forest – Expect the trails in the Kaaterskill  Falls area to be icy. Hikers should use extreme caution, especially on icy stone staircases and other rock surfaces. Be prepared with traction devices such as microspikes or crampons. For your safety, avoid hiking near cliff edges and avoid the midpool area if you do not have traction devices.

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

Slide Mountain Wilderness Area –The Terrace Mountain and Table Mountain lean-tos have been replaced. Forest Rangers, DEC Forestry and Operations staff partnered with State Police to fly in the lean-to kits with helicopters. Big thanks to the Bruderhof community for building the lean-to kits in their wood working shop class and to the 3500 Club for the generous donations of roof and floor boards and shingles.  

Leave No Trace

Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

As plants and wildlife become more active, so do invasive species. Do your best to prevent the spread of invasives to new areas by cleaning your gear, brush your pets off after your adventure, and avoid transporting firewood. As boating season picks up, remember to clean, drain and dry your boat to leave aquatic invasive species behind.

For more information on the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, visit LNT.org. 

Trail Supporter Patch

Want to show your love of NY’s great outdoors? Order the latest trail support patch today! We’ll be releasing five recreation themed designs throughout 2022, each available for a limited time only, so don’t miss out!

Purchase a Trail Supporter Patch for $5 (or the full series for $25) at any sporting license sales outlet, or online at the DECALS website. The proceeds from patch sales go into the Conservation Fund's Outdoor Recreation, Trail Maintenance, and Development account to help maintain and enhance DEC's non-motorized recreation trails throughout the state.

For more information on the Trail Supporter Patch, visit DEC's website.