Hike for the Catskills is an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the Catskills while helping to protect critical Catskills habitats, keep our land and waters wild (even at the most popular hiking destinations), and advocate for our communities and the Catskill Park.

This month-long event is meant for everyone! From complete beginners to expert-level hikers, all are welcome to register. Choose your own hiking goal based on your experience and availability. The Catskill Center will host a variety of hiking events throughout the month all over the Catskills. There will be a kickoff event on Saturday, August 5 with two guided hikes and an after-party at west kill brewing. We will close out the month-long event with a thank-you celebration and awards ceremony with gifts and prizes at our catskills visitor center. 

Register here

With your help, we hope to raise $15,000 to help us protect and preserve the Catskills. All proceeds go toward advancing the work of the Catskill Center.

Registration Instructions:

1. To register, follow this link and, at the top of the CAMPAIGN page, click “I want to fundraise for this.”

2. Enter your name and email to get started. You will then receive an email to create an account and set up your campaign.

3. In your Donorbox dashboard, click on “Campaigns” and then click “edit” to customize your campaign.

4. Set your Campaign Goal to $250 or more. You will receive a Hike for the Catskills T-shirt once you’ve reached $250. You will receive a hike for the catskills patch once you’ve reached $100.

5. In the “Share your Story” section, we encourage you to tell us why you’re choosing to hike and how many miles you hope to accomplish.

6. Once you’ve customized your campaign, click “Preview Fundraiser Page,” which will bring you to your personalized campaign. You can share this page with friends and family via social media and email to start fundraising for the Catskills.

7. Start hiking! We’ve provided several hiking suggestions below and have a series of guided hikes throughout the four weeks in august.

For questions regarding registration, please email the Catskill Center’s Annual Giving Manager Danielle Tucker at dtucker@catskillcenter.org.

guided hikes

Tuesday, August 1 - Full Moon Hike up Overlook Mountain

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s David Hans for a hike up Overlook Mountain during the first of August’s TWO FULL MOONS. Overlook Mountain is a 5 mile in-and-out hike of moderate difficulty, offering great views of the Hudson Valley from the eastern-facing viewpoint just a short walk from the Observers Cabin by the Fire Tower.

Even though the moon will add light, any cloud coverage can block out that light, so headlamps are recommended. However, flashlights are not recommended, especially for those using trekking poles. The meetup will be at 5pm at the Overlook Mountain Trailhead to get early views of the moon around 7:30pm.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

Saturday, august 5: kickoff celebration with guided hikes and a gathering at west kill brewery

Why not start heading to your goal on one of our guided hikes on kickoff day, August 5? There will be two guided hikes, an easier one to Diamond Notch Falls and a more difficult hike to Hunter Mountain Fire Tower.

hunter mountain fire tower

Join one of our Fire Tower stewards for this 7 mile out-and-back fun and moderately challenging hike to the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower. This tower has the distinction of being located at the highest elevation of any fire tower in New York state. Enjoy some great views while completing your hike to one of the six fire towers in the 2023 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge!

The moderately difficult hike has a 1,768 elevation gain from the trailhead. Beautiful, 360 views of the Catskills will greet us from the top cab of the fire tower. We’ll meet at the Spruceton Trail Parking Lot off of Spruceton Road at 9am. Registration is required and spots are limited for this 9am-3:30pm hike.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

diamond notch falls

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s David Hans for a short hike to Diamond Notch Falls from Spruceton Rd. The trail follows the creek along an old service road and the hike will reach its turning point at the trail junction by Diamond Notch Falls.

The hike will begin from the Spruceton Rd Trailhead. If the lot is full, we’ll meet at the Forest Preserve lot just a bit down from the trailhead, on the right. All attendees are welcome to visit West Kill Brewing afterward where we will be hosting our Hike for the Catskills Kickoff Party, starting at 2pm.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

After the guided hikes, anyone who registers for HFTC will be invited to meet at West Kill Brewing at 2pm, where each person will get a drink ticket. It will be the THIRD release party for “Mountain Life” Pale Ale. A portion of the proceeds from these ale sales benefit the Catskill center.

Cheers to West Kill Brewing and EMS for their generosity!

Friday, August 11 - Interpretive Trail & Fire Tower at Catskills Visitor Center

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s Brent LeRash for a ¾-mile hike around our Interpretive Trail. Read our interpretive signage along the way while you enjoy this ADA-accessible path around the Catskills Visitor Center property. We also have a Fire Tower just off the Interpretive Trail which offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, including Tremper Mountain. 

The hike will begin at 11am. We’ll meet at the Pavilion on the grounds of the Catskills Visitor Center (right next to the Visitor Center). To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 16 people.

Saturday, August 12 - Balsam Lake Fire Tower

Join one of our Fire Tower stewards, Matt, for this 6 mile, out-and-back hike to the top of Balsam Lake Mountain to climb the fire tower and enjoy the views. This is a great way to work on completing the 2023 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge, which is organized by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. We’ll meet at the Dry Brook Ridge trailhead on Mill Brook Road in Arkville at 9am. Registration is required and spots are limited! 

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

Thursday, August 17 - Ridge Trail & upper esopus Fire Tower

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s Brent LeRash for a ½-mile, round-trip, hike up the Ridge Trail to enjoy a nice spot for a picnic. The moderate uphill hike leads to a set of picnic tables at the top of the ridge. Plan to bring a lunch or snack to enjoy there. We also have a Fire Tower just off the Interpretive Trail, which offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, including Tremper Mountain. The Upper Esopus Fire Tower is part of the Fire Tower Challenge, so don’t miss out.

The hike will begin at 11:30am. Meet up will be at the Pavillion on the grounds of the Catskills Visitor Center (right next to the Visitor Center). To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

Saturday, August 19 - red hill fire tower

Join one of our Fire Tower stewards, Kristy, for this hike to Red Hill Fire Tower and get one step closer to completing the 2023 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge!

We will leave from the Denning Road Trailhead at 9am. This is a moderate trail that is 4 miles round trip (out and back) to the fire tower. Trailhead address is: 2205 Denning Rd, Claryville, NY 12725-5266

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

Saturday, August 19 - birding walk at catskills visitor center

Join our Community Relations Specialist and bird enthusiast Finn Parnell for a birding walk around the Catskills Visitor Center. We’ll be listening for and identifying birds along the 0.5 mile, accessible loop trail. For those interested, the Upper Esopus Fire Tower will be open and available to climb. Please wear comfortable footwear. Binoculars are available to borrow. You will meet the hike leader at the entrance to the Catskills Visitor Center at 10am.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

Sunday, August 20 - Leave No Trace Hike at Kaaterskill Falls

Join our Catskill stewards, Patrick and Sam, for a Leave No Trace hike at Kaaterskill Falls. Arrive at the Laurel House parking lot by 9am and meet the stewards at the kiosk at the beginning of the trail.

We will hike down to the Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform. Along the way, our Catskill stewards will talk about some of the issues of concern on trails, Leave No Trace Principles, and how to Recreate Responsibly. Please bring water, and wear hiking boots or shoes. Sandals are not permitted on the hike. To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

Friday, August 25 - Interpretive Trail & Fire Tower

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s Brent LeRash for a ¾-mile hike around our Interpretive Trail. Stop and read the iInterpretive signage along the trail while you enjoy this ADA-accessible path around the Catskills Visitor Center property. We also have a Fire Tower (Upper Esopus Fire Tower, which is part of the 2023 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge) just off the Interpretive Trail which offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, including Tremper Mountain. 

The Hike will begin at 11am. Meet up will be at the Pavilion on the grounds of the Catskills Visitor Center. To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 16 people.

Wednesday, August 30 - Blue Moon Hike up Overlook Mountain

Join the Catskills Visitor Center’s David Hans for a hike up Overlook Mountain during the second of August’s TWO FULL MOONS. Overlook Mountain is a 5 mile in-and-out hike of moderate difficulty, offering great views of the Hudson Valley from the eastern-facing viewpoint just a short walk from the Observers Cabin by the Fire Tower.

Even though the moon will add light, any cloud coverage can block out that light, so headlamps are recommended. However, flashlights are not recommended, especially for those using trekking poles. We’ll meet at 7pm at the Overlook Mountain Trailhead to get early views of the moon around 9pm.

To register for the hike, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org. Provide your name, phone number, and email so we can reach you about any changes or cancellations. Advance registration is required and the hike is limited to 12 people.

ADDITIONAL hiking in the catskills

Need some ideas about where to hike? Here’s a list of suggested hikes based on your personal hiking goals. Please note that these categories are based on general hiking experience levels for some.

EASY:

Catskills Visitor Center Path: We welcome you to the Catskills Visitor Center to not only get information, browse exhibits, and purchase gear, but experience our beautiful trails. With 1.5 miles of level, gravel trails, this is a great way for people of all abilities to enjoy the outdoors. (Accessible to individuals who use wheelchairs)

Ashokan Reservoir Promenade: 2.8 miles in length. This paved, flat walk is a perfect way to get out and get moving. Beautiful scenic views of the Catskill Mountains. Keep your eyes peeled as you might even spot a bald eagle.  (Accessible to individuals who use wheelchairs)

The Windham Path: 1.5 mile loop. This beautiful, flat trail winds its way through meadows and is the only public access to the Batavia Kill Stream. A great way to get out on the trails without rugged terrain or steep climbs. 

Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform from Laurel House Rd Parking: 0.6 miles out and back, this lovely flat trail winds its way down to the viewing platform of Kaaterskill Falls. Get a great view while staying on an accessible, flat trail. (Accessible to individuals who use wheelchairs) There is a slight elevation gain as you wind your way back up. 

Catskill Mountain House Site: Less than a half mile from the North/South Lake Campground, this trail opens up to a stunning view of the Hudson Valley. This beautiful grassy outlook is the site of the once famous Catskill Mountain House.       

Moderate:

North Point: Just under 6 miles. This trail winds its way up through three different types of forests over boulders and small rock scrambles, and ends at a wonderful view looking over North/South Lake and beyond. 

Huckleberry Point: Climb your way up a snowmobile trail before you turn off onto a more technical trail that leads you through dense forest and across blueberry fields before coming to a spectacular view of Overlook Mountain and the Devil’s Path. This trail can be quite wet all year long so be sure and bring proper footwear and gaiters. 

Tanbark Loop: 2 miles round trip, this trail is located right in the town of Phoenicia, following old roads once used for the training industry of the area the Tanbark trail makes its way through a steep rocky outcropping before looping thorough to a lovely views of Phoenicia and near by mountains. 

Red Hill Fire Tower via Denning Rd: 4 miles out and back. With a new trail built in 2021, you can view of one the six fire towers in the Catskills. With only 1,200 feet of elevation gain, this trail is a great way to experience some of the region’s amazing fire tower history. The new trail makes its way steadily uphill with only a few steep sections. With stunning views or the surrounding mountains, Red Hill has a lot to offer. 

Giant Ledge*: 6.3 mile round trip. Giant ledge is a stunning viewpoint, located right of the shoulder of Panther mountain. This incredibly popular hike makes its way up a fairly steep incline with lots of boulders and small rock scrambles before opening to an expansive view. You can stay overnight in one of the campsites right near the views. However due to its popularity, please give this area some extra love and respect; opt to bring out a piece of garbage or two on behalf of someone else. Together, we can keep this beautiful area healthy and clean. )*Giant Ledge is an incredibly popular hike and the lot often fills up by noon, Please have an alternate hike planned if need be.)

DIFFICULT:

Burroughs Range Trail: 8.85 one way, this trail can be turned into a 15-mile loop if desired. The Burroughs Range Trail includes three peaks, including, Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slide Mountain, which is the Catskills tallest peak . This is a challenging hike with several very steep sections, including the Cornell Crack as notoriously difficult section of trail. 

The Devil’s Path: 24 miles one way. The Devil’s Path spans five mountain peaks: Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, Plateau, and West Kill. This trail is considered by some to be one of the hardest trails in the Catskills and consists of some of the most rugged terrain in the area, with several rock scrambles and steep sections. Total elevation gain is 9,000 feet. 

Escarpment Trail: 23.9 miles one way. This trail usually takes people three days to finish; however, some determined hikers manage it in a day. The Escarpment trail features significant elevation gain and rocky terrain, and beautiful views along several peaks, including Blackhead, Windham High Peak, Thomas Cole, Black Dome, Acra Point, and Burnt Knob. 

Black Dome, Blackhead, Thomas Cole: 8.56 mile lollypop loop. This is a steep hike, with rocky terrain. Both Black Dome and Blackhead mountains offer a wonderful view worth the climb, yet Thomas Cole does not offer the same luxury. If planning to start from Barnum Rd, please stay on the trail as it runs along private property.

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SPONSORED BY:

In 2021, Moe Lemire, Josh Gorsch, and Dillon Utter hiked for the Catskills. Read about their adventures here.

SINCE 1969, the catskill center HAs LED THE EFFORT TO PROTECT THE MORE THAN 700,000 ACRES OF THE CATSKILL PARK AND CATSKILL FOREST PRESERVE.

OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND FOSTER THE ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE CATSKILL REGION.

The Catskill Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 23-7058142). Your contribution and membership dues are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

A copy of our most recently filed financial report is available from the Charities Registry on the New York State Attorney General’s website (www.charitiesnys.com) or, upon request, by contacting the New York State Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, or us at Catskill Center, PO Box 504, Arkville, NY 12406.  You also may obtain information on charitable organizations from the New York State Office of the Attorney General at www.charitiesnys.com  or (212) 416-8401.