Catskills

First Winter Hike in the Catskills & a Cozy Cabin, December 13 & 14, 2025

December 15, 2025

Another trip to the Catskills! I was counting the days until we could get back up. I’ve really fallen in love with these mountains. Every time we go, they become more and more familiar. This time we stayed in Phoenicia in a rustic cabin. The cabin had a warm, glowing fire, and the main lodge was decorated for the holidays, which really set the mood perfectly. The town of Phoenicia is centrally located in the Catskills, so it was a great base with plenty of options for different hiking trails.

There was already snow on the ground from a few days earlier, so I wasn’t sure how my low-clearance car was going to manage. I went with no expectations and decided that if worse came to worst and we didn’t get out on the trail, we’d still have a nice place to stay and relax.

Our original plan was to hike to Balsam Lake Fire Tower. This trip was more of a recon trip to reacquaint ourselves with our winter gear and get a feel for hiking upstate. We’re experienced with snow hiking on the West Coast, but the East Coast is a completely different beast. The cold and wind come at much lower elevations, and as with any mountain, temperatures and weather conditions can change in an instant.

As we drove along Route 28 and up and over Belleayre Mountain, the temperature dropped, the winds picked up, and the snow started coming down fast. We decided to turn around, just in case conditions got worse. If we had an AWD vehicle, that might have been a different story, but I didn’t want to spend the weekend waiting for a tow truck to pull us out of a snow drift.

It was already late in the day, so we decided to head over to the trailhead for Hunter Mountain on Spruceton Road and see what the driving was like over there. I was more worried about the car than the hiking, because once we’re on the trail, we’re good to go.

The afternoon was very quiet and still, and the only sound I heard was the flow of Hunter Brook. The trail was doable in either spikes or snowshoes; however, if we’d had time to go farther up the mountain, we definitely would have switched to snowshoes.

We were able to get in a few miles before the short winter day started to fade and the sun began to set behind the mountain. We headed back to the cabin, checked in, and then went out for a bite to eat before settling in for a warm, cozy evening.

The night was so quiet and peaceful. We woke up Sunday morning to a few more inches of snow. It was nice to look out the window and see towering pine trees instead of towering skyscrapers for a change. We had a light breakfast and took our time in the morning, hoping the DEC might have the trailhead plowed out so we could get in another hike on Hunter before heading back to the city. Spruceton Road was plowed just fine, but unfortunately the parking area at the trailhead wasn’t, and my car just can’t handle snow like that. We headed back to the cabin to enjoy the rest of the day in the beauty of the Catskills, with a cozy fire and each other’s company, before making our way back to the city.

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Catskills, Kaaterskill Falls & North/South Lake Campground, Kaaterskill Wild Forest, November 9, 2025

November 09, 2025

We woke up to rain this morning and hit the road fairly early. With the somewhat inclement weather, I figured it might be a perfect time to visit Kaaterskill Falls. This area of the Catskills is usually packed because of its popularity and the easy walk to the viewing platform above the falls. When we arrived at the parking lot on Scutt Road, there was only one other car. We headed into the woods and hiked through a light, steady rain for about a mile until we reached the platform and the falls came into view.

Seeing the falls in dense fog and mist was spectacular. They had this ethereal, almost ghostly appearance, and there wasn’t another soul around. We had the entire moment to ourselves, able to soak in the tranquility of a place that’s normally crowded. Moments like this make me so glad I decide to get out, even in the rain and less-than-ideal hiking conditions.

With wet rocks, slippery moss, and fallen leaves, we chose to keep the morning relaxing with an easy walk instead of anything strenuous. After leaving the falls, we hiked over to the North/South Lake area and followed a gravel path along the lake to the campground. The campground was closed for the season, void of the usual activity and the dense fog made it feel like we were walking through a dream. Everything looked like a painting. I could see why artist and environmentalist Thomas Cole who founded the Hudson River School of American landscape painting was so inspired by this area. Some of the trail even had interpretive signs from the Hudson River Art Trail highlighting the very views that inspired Cole.

I took so many photos on both my phone and my Lumix. Thankfully, I had my phone as a backup because, just like the previous day, my SD card corrupted and wiped out all the images.

Regardless, it was an absolutely lovely morning and such a peaceful way to wrap up another Catskill weekend.

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Catskills, Diamond Notch Falls via Spruceton Road + Hunter Mountain via Spruceton Trail out and back, 9.61 Miles RT, 2,194’ +/-, Max Elevation 4,040’, November 8, 2025

November 08, 2025

Our adventures this weekend took us to Hunter Mountain in the Catskills’ Hunter-West Kill Wilderness. We parked at the trailhead on Spruceton Road and began with a short hike along the Diamond Notch Trail, which follows West Kill Brook to a lovely waterfall. From there, the trail splits east along the Devil’s Path or across a bridge over the West Kill toward Diamond Notch or the Devil’s Path West. We chose to backtrack to the parking area and start our ascent of Hunter via the Spruceton Trail.

The Spruceton Trail is a wide carriage road open to both hikers and horses, though I didn’t see any recent signs of equestrian use, just the hitching rails along the way. True to Catskill form, the trail climbs steadily and with little mercy. It begins with a moderate grade through hardwood forest on a rocky but easy path. Around 3,500 feet the landscape shifts into stands of fragrant red spruce and balsam fir. The trail was muddy in places, so waterproof boots were necessary.

We passed a clear mountain spring flowing into a barrel, the spur to the John Robb Lean-to, and later the junction with the Colonel’s Chair Trail, which leads toward the Hunter Mountain Ski Lodge and chairlift.

Eventually the trail leveled out a bit before climbing again at a more moderate grade, finally reaching the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower and Observer’s Cabin. Hunter tops out at 4,040 feet, and there are picnic tables at the summit too. We climbed as high as we could up the 60-foot tower, stopping just below the locked cab, which was unattended. The views were spectacular! The Hunter Mountain Fire Tower, built in 1917 and relocated to its current location in 1953, stands at the highest elevation of any fire tower in New York State. It was windy at the top, and I could feel the tower sway in the gusts, but it felt sturdy and well-built. I wished I could have stayed up there longer, but others were coming and going, eager to take in the same breathtaking views.

By the time we started back down it was around 2 p.m. Through the leafless trees, we had clear views of Rusk and East Rusk Mountains. As we descended back into the hardwood forest, tiny moths fluttered along the trail, something I’d noticed on the way up as well. It was a really great hike, and next time I’d like to start earlier and make it a loop hiking the Devil’s Path and Hunter Mountain Trail.

Note that the photos are all I was able to capture with my phone. They are both photos and video stills. Unfortunately, the SD card on my camera corrupted and I lost all photos from this weekend except for these phone pics.

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Catskills, Mt. Tremper Fire Tower via Jessup Road, Willow Trail & Warner Creek Trail, 7.1 Miles RT, 1,837' +/-, Max Elevation 2,740', October 19, 2025

October 19, 2025

We wanted to make the best out of our weekend, so we woke up and headed out to hike Mount Tremper from the Willow Parking Area located off Jessup Road. This approach is longer but less steep than hiking it from Old Rt. 28/Mt. Tremper-Phoenicia Rd.

We parked in the small lot in a residential area that had room for about six cars. The trail immediately begins a steep ascent on an old jeep road through mostly hardwoods. We hiked through the beautiful Hoyt Hollow, where huge boulders line the walls of the hollow. Here, the trail narrows as it passes through more conifers. It’s my favorite section of this hike. Some parts of the trail were slightly eroded but still very manageable. It also loses some elevation before ascending again as it meets the junction with the Warner Creek Trail.

The Warner Creek Trail is a section of the Long Path that continues past the summit of Mount Tremper to Silver Hollow Notch. It’s an undulating stretch, and the winds really picked up here. With the autumn leaves falling, we had some views to the north and south. Eventually, we reached the 47-foot fire tower at the summit. We climbed as high as we could up to the locked cab and enjoyed views of the Burroughs Range, Stony Clove, Deep Notch, and the Devil’s Path Range. We had a snack and checked out the Baldwin lean-to before heading back the way we came.

The weather was starting to turn, and it looked like rain was moving in, so we hiked back down at a decent pace. I was so focused and deep in my groove, enjoying the wind and racing the ominous weather that seemed to be approaching. As we descended, the wind died down, and we stayed well ahead of the rain. It was a great hike. I’ve really fallen in love with the Catskills!

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Catskills, Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower via Dry Brook Ridge, 6 Miles RT, 1,197' +/-, Max Elevation, 3,723', October 18, 2025

October 18, 2025

Today’s hike took us to the top of Balsam Lake Mountain.

The very first fire tower ever placed on a mountaintop in New York State was installed here in 1887. The 47 foot tower that stands today was erected in 1919, closed in 1988, and later reopened in 2000.

We began our hike at the trailhead off Mill Brook Road, where there’s a parking lot with a kiosk and clear signage pointing the way. Crossing the road, we followed the blue markers on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. The trail was moderately graded by Catskill standards and wide, with rocks that were easy to navigate. Large moss-covered boulders and ferns lined the path and we passed a small mountain spring along the way.

Eventually, we reached a junction with the red marked Balsam Lake Mountain Trail leading to the summit. The grade became steeper here, but still very manageable. The trail soon transitioned into an aromatic forest of balsam fir and spruce before opening into a clearing with the Observer’s Cabin and the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower. Picnic tables are scattered around the area, and a group of young hikers was gathered there playing music and having a great time, adding to the joyful, welcoming energy of the mountain.

We climbed to the top of the tower and took in the views stretching over the tops of the balsam fir trees. Ladybugs were flying around the the tower and the clearing adding to the happy atmosphere. We hung out for a while, had a snack, and then began our descent.

It was a wonderful day… nothing too strenuous and just the right amount of effort to make you feel like you earned your dinner. I absolutely loved this hike.

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Catskills-Windham High Peak via Escarpment Trail, 8.67 Miles RT, 1,916' +/-, Max Elevation 3,524', September 20, 2025

September 20, 2025

We are exploring the Catskills and I am loving it! There are climbs here that make you work for it. It feels good to be back on respectively sized mountains again. We hiked to Windham High Peak via the Escarpment trail in the Elm Ridge Wild Forest. This hike is fairly straight forward without any rock scrambles; however, as you get closer to the peak, the mountain does get pretty steep. There are a few ledges at the summit with views out over the Hudson Valley and on the opposite side looking towards Blackhead, Black Dome and Thomas Cole mountains in the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness. Windham High Peak tops out at 3,524’ elevation, and there’s a geo tag on the summit. It was a great workout today! I look forward to more of these hikes and seeing more of these beautiful Catskill mountains. They’re just about a 2 hour drive from NYC.

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Catskill Park, Overlook Mountain Fire Tower & Hotel Ruins, 5.82 Miles RT, 1,640' +/-, April 24, 2022

April 24, 2022

We took a day trip to the Catskills to explore the area and hike. Our first stop was the visitors center where we asked for some recommendations and picked up a few maps. We decided to check out Overlook Mountain which was one of the hikes I’d read about when I was researching before our trip. We got back in the car, drove through Woodstock and found the parking lot at the trailhead off Meads Mountain Road across from a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. It was later in the day, and with this being a popular hike, the lot was at capacity and we ended up parking along side the road.

The hike is on an old carriage road and the views didn’t change much as we made our way up steadily gaining in elevation. In a little over a mile and a half we came upon the ruins of the old Overlook Hotel. The ruins here are the remains of the third building that was built at this location. The first was built in the early 1800s. Over the years, the Overlook Hotel changed hands serval times. It seemed to be a failed endeavor right from its start. It burned down twice before it was rebuilt it in concrete. In the early 1900s, the failed Overlook Hotel closed its doors indefinitely as the trend of luxury resort hotels in the Catskills phased out and the clientele took their money elsewhere. Today, the Overlook’s ruins are one of the only historic resorts left in the Catskills. In the 1970s, the hotel burned yet again, but the concrete structure withstood the fiery blaze.

After exploring the ruins, we continued up the trail until we reached the summit of Overlook Mountain at 3,140 feet. There’s a cabin just before the fire tower and a short spur trail that took us to a rocky outcropping with expansive views of the Hudson River Valley and Ashokan Reservior. After checking out the vista, we continued to the fire tower. We climbed the tower’s stairs, but the door to the actual lookout was closed. We cllimbed up the 60 foot tower as high as we could go and enjoyed the views before heading down to have a snack at one of the convenient picnic tables on the summit.

After our snack, we began to make our way back. We decided to quick check out a side trail to Echo Lake which had much less people, but as we began to give up elevation, we decided to turn around and save it for another day since it was a little late and we’d have to hike it back up and then down again on our original trail.

It was a lovely day and although this was a more populated hike, I did enjoy the climb up the fire tower and it was a nice intro to the Catskills.

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