Catskill Outdoor Recreation Bulletin

November 2023

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).

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, tips for planning, and how to Leave No Trace^TM. Be sure to check out the links for additional information and tips and tricks for recreating safely and minimizing your impacts on natural resources, recreational infrastructure, and other backcountry users in the Catskill Mountains.

Catskills Visitor Center

Looking to visit the Catskills? Be sure to stop by the Catskills Visitors Center before your next adventure. Here, you can have your questions answered, get trip planning advice, and even pick up maps and local information on places you might want to explore.  While you’re there, don’t miss out on climbing the fire tower(yes, there’s a fire tower on site!), hiking the trails, and learning a bit more about the Catskill Mountains through the all new interactive exhibits. Trust us, it is a do not miss location while visiting the region.  
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.

General Notices

Hike Smart by packing the proper gear. See our recommended packing list (PDF) and safety tips for the season.

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: High 40’s
Catskill Region Nighttime: Low 20’s

Approximate Time of Sunrise: 7:00AM
Approximate Time of Sunset: 4:28PM

Fire Towers: Volunteer interpreters hike to the fire towers and open the top cabs for visitors to enjoy the view on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays from Memorial Day weekend through Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly Columbus Day) weekend. 

Hunting Season: Hunting season is here in the Catskills. Some important dates to keep in mind for the southern zone region:  

• Regular hunting season (gun season) starts Saturday November 18th, and ends on Sunday December 10th.
• Late bow hunting season December 12th through December 19th, and December 26th through January 1st.  

More information about hunting seasons can found on the DEC website. Hikers should be reminded to wear bright colors, and hunters to identify your target and hunt responsibly. Leave No Trace^TM Hunting ethics.

Love Our New York 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 New York Lands. Check out the How To Love Our New York Lands playlist on DEC’s YouTube Channel!

Share the Woods: Both Hunters and Hikers Recreate on Public Lands

With hunting seasons underway and fall hiking still at its peak, DEC is encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to follow safety precautions while recreating this fall and winter. Whether you are a hiker, a nature photographer, a leaf peeper, or a mountain biker, following a few simple safety measures can make your experience as safe as possible while hunters and trappers are afield.

Tips for both hikers and hunters afield this fall:

1. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’re planning to return. If your plans change, notify them.
2. Dress for the weather - account for both location and elevation changes.
3. Become familiar with the trail you plan on hiking or the area you plan on hunting.
4. Wear bright clothing - blaze orange or blaze pink. Bright colors allow others to see you more easily and from farther away.
5. Make sure you pack your bag with the 10 Essentials, especially a light source, map, and first aid kit.

For more tips on sharing the woods this fall, check out the recent video by DEC.

Hikers should be aware that they may meet hunters bearing firearms or archery equipment while hiking on trails. Hunters are fellow outdoor recreationists and hunting is permitted on Forest Preserve and Conservation Easement lands. Hunting accidents involving non-hunters are extremely rare.

If you decide to adventure with your pet, make sure to keep them on a leash. Loose pets can cause problems with other recreators and can get into trouble with wild animals. Also, to make pets more identifiable in the woods, give them a brightly colored collar, leash or other covering. DEC maintains hiking trails and permits hunting in many areas of forest preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, as well as in state forests, wildlife management areas, and unique areas. Find a place near you by visiting our website, checking out DECinfo Locator, or downloading the HuntFishNY App. Many trails are also accessible to people with disabilities.

Forest Rangers in Review

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State.

Town of Hardenburgh
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 18 at 2 p.m., Forest Rangers Horn and Sweeney overheard radio traffic regarding an injured hunter in Hardenburgh. The 67-year-old from Margaretville fell and injured his head, ribs, and leg. Arkville, Fleischmanns, Halcottsville, and Margaretville Fire Departments packaged the patient and began an evacuation. Rangers Horn and Sweeney assisted with the half-mile carryout. A LifeNet helicopter flew the hunter to the hospital. Resources were clear at 6 p.m.

In 2022, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 359 search and rescue missions, extinguished 162 wildfires covering more than 1,300 acres, participated in 53 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate nearly 900 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in hundreds of tickets and arrests.

Recent Notices

Willowemoc Wild Forest: Volunteers with the NYNJ Trail Conference recently completed work at the Quick Lake Lean-to. The work included, removing old shingles off the roof and install the new asphalt ones, redirecting roof runoff, prepping and staining the exterior, installing a new privy, and rebuilding the fire pit. Thank you to everyone that helped with this project!

Kaaterskill Wild Forest and Indian Head Wilderness: Please be advised that the Town of Hunter has parking restrictions on Route 23A and Platte Clove Road. Park only at designated DEC parking lots. Come prepared with backup options and move on if the area's parking lot is full. Any illegally parked vehicle may be ticketed and towed to the Town Hall Impound Lot.

Kaaterskill Clove Visitor Use Management: DEC has awarded a Visitor Use Management (VUM) planning contract to Otak, a private consulting firm specializing in research, planning, and design to help develop sustainable recreation solutions in the Kaaterskill Clove area of the Catskill Park. The goal of this planning process is to develop strategies that ensure the popular destination provides positive visitor experiences while continuing to protect the Forest Preserve. The Kaaterskill Clove Visitor Use Management website hosts project information, updates, and opportunities to get involved.

Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest: DEC Forest Rangers and volunteers with the NYNJ Trail Conference installed a new privy at the Kelly Hollow lean-to and cleaned out the ashes of the fire pit. Thanks for your hard work!

Leave No Trace™ – Keep Wildlife Wild

Feeding human food to wildlife can cause many behavioral changes that may impact their health. It can cause them to stop feeding on natural foods that provide them the right nutrients they need to survive. They can become reliant on human food, which may lead to aggression towards humans and each other as they lose wariness. In the winter months, it can even interfere with some species’ hibernation cycles.

Feeding wildlife can also cause overabundance and increased risk of disease spread. For all these reasons, it is illegal to feed several species of wildlife in NYS, including deer, bear, and moose.

Follow the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace^TM to maintain minimal impact on the environment and the natural resources of the Catskills.

Arbor Day Poster Contests

Annual Photo/Artwork Contest

Could your artwork be the next winner in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest? Submit your photo or artwork by December 31, 2023, for a chance to be part of the tradition!

Visit our website to find more details about the contest and to submit your work for consideration.

Photo: 2016 Arbor Day photo of Sleepy Hollow Lake, NY, by Robert Near

There is a Contest for Students too!

Do you work at a K-12 school and want to get your students engaged with and excited about trees? Learn more about a “tree-rific” opportunity below:

Student Arbor Day Poster Contest: have your students create posters to promote Arbor Day and celebrate the importance of trees! The poster contest is open to public schools, home schools, afterschool programs, and other educational programs. Let us know if your students have Arbor Day posters—we would love to share them on DEC social media! For more info about the student poster contest, visit the DEC website.

2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge

You still have time to participate in the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge! To enter, visit all six Catskill Fire Towers within the 2023 calendar year and submit an online or paper (PDF) hike log, along with a favorite photo from your adventure. All participants will receive a challenge patch, as well as a chance to win various outdoor prizes. Repeat finishers who have completed a past Catskill Fire Tower Challenge will also be awarded a commemorative mug.

For a bonus entry, submit a photo practicing Leave No Trace™ while out on your hikes. Make sure to plan ahead and prepare for your journey by learning more about the challenge and hikes, and deciding on the best time for you, your family, friends, or hiking companions to hit the trails!

For more information about the fire towers and challenge rules, visit DEC’s website.

Don't Miss the Conservationist Holiday Sale

It's the best sale of the year - get six issues for only $6! All subscriptions include access to the enhanced Digital Edition plus Conservationist for Kids three times per year. All gift givers will be sent a Conservationist bookmark to give to their recipient(s) and all new subscriptions will start with the December 2023/January 2024 issue. To take advantage of this offer, subscribe and be sure to use promo code HOL23 at checkout.

Published six times a year, Conservationist is a New York State-focused magazine that is packed with informative and entertaining articles, first-rate photography and stunning artwork. Articles cover a broad range of environmental and natural history related topics, including fishing, hiking, recreation, travel, hunting, and nature studies.

Highlights of the October/November 2023 issue:

• Revitalizing New York's industrial past.
• Creating new conservationists through turkey hunting.
• 2022 white-tailed deer harvest summary.
• Picking the perfect hunting dog.
• Biological monitoring in the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers.
• Recycle Right New York.

And much more!