Great visit to Kaaterskill Falls on Wednesday, October 7, 2026…read more Decided to visit mid-week to avoid the crowds as it approached peak fall colors...I think October 7th was a bit too early...another week or so would have been better for colors. I have read that the Main Trailhead Lot (Laurel House Road), closest to the waterfall trails, fills up quickly during the fall. I arrived there at 8:30am and was the 9th car in the 40-50-capacity parking lot. When I left at 11:30am, the lot was full and staff was routing visiting from the main road (North Lake Road) to the Scutt Road parking lot...which is a bit further away from the falls. Once parked, the fall viewing platform was a short 0.1 mile walk. It offers some lovely views of the falls from higher up. From there, the walk to the lower falls was about 0.5 miles, but be advised that there are lots of steps (over 300) to get from the top of the falls to the bottom of the falls. You can walk even further from the base of the falls, along Spruce Creek, toward Route 23A and you will get to Bastion Falls. Since I arrived earlier, there were too many people on the trails...which made picture-taking a lot easier. I suspect the crowds increase as the area approached peak fall colors and on the weekends...so plan accordingly. The falls were great...I actually preferred the lower falls viewing area, for its consistent lighting and heavier waterfall flow. The upper was very high but the flow wasn't as heavy. The park is well-maintained with efficient trail marking and directional signage throughout. Free to park and enter the park/waterfall area. Port a potties in parking lot...are as clean as you can expect from a popular public parking port a potty.

Be prepared, the trail down to the falls is very long and while its quite easy going down ,getting…read moreback up is a definitely a treck. It's so worth it though. If however you decide not to go down to the bottom, there is a viewing platform . The waterfall pressure/flow can vary depending on when you visit. Heavy after rain or less during the summer months. Swimming is allowed in the basin , the water is cold . The fall and parking are free in designated parking lots. There was a porta potty in tje lot we parked in. Not sure if there's one in each parking lot though. Don't park anywhere along the roads as you will get ticketed and/or towed. Arrive early aa the parking lots fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Personally I wouldn't do this trail on a rainy day especially if you're a beginner. Lots of stepping stones that can be slippery when wet. Other than that it's one of the most beautiful trails I've been on.

This is a well under rated waterfall hike in the Catskill…read more We mistaken took the Overlook trail thinking that there is a "overlook" for the waterfall. I was wrong. We did found some stone made into chairs on one of the walk out. That was really cool. Took a little break there and enjoyed the cool wind. Was nice. After finding out that there was no Overlook to yhe waterfall, we head back to the start and took a left this time, the Waterfall trail. It was a ln easy hike down. A good 5-10 minutes down. If it rained before, it could be a messy down as the trail is not paved. It is a little slope down as well but not that bad. We stayed there for a long time enjoying the waterfall cause there was really not alot if people and after at last we actually had the waterfall to ourselves. Though the parking lot was small. You just basically pull your car over to the side. Just try to avoid the "No Parking" signs and you good to go. I pick this waterfall to go then the Kaaterskill as it's very crowed and there was a wait to park to car.

A group of sister friends and I decided to do a hike to Huckleberry point. There are many trails…read moreas you can see in my first photo ( more in other parts of the park). It took us an an hour from the Latham area it was a great drive down the Thruway on to 87 and we exitEd on to exit 21 from there you have to pay attention to the go's because there is a number of twist and turns. Parking is a bear. The parking lot is small and not enough room for all of the hikers. A number of drivers had to park on the side of the road. You have to be careful because drivers on that stretch of Platte Clove Road are driving quite fast. The climb is up most of the way and narrows and the elevation from the parking lot to the top is 644 ft. It gets quite muddy in spots and you have to cross a creek so waterproof hiking boots are recommended. There are many spots where there are steady inclines so you have to be prepared for that. The beauty of the park and nature was beautifully overwhelming for me yesterday. The many cascading waterfalls and the sounds of nature were refreshing and peaceful. You need to bring water and fuel for the ascending and descending. I'm looking forward to my next hike. You need to be carefully looking for the trail markers. There were spots you really had to search for them when the path wasn't as obvious. The park need to put a bit more in.

If you want to know the truth, the whole thing depressed the hell out of me right from the start…read more People talk about the Devil's Path up in the Catskills like it's some kind of grand, soul-searching experience, but mostly it's just thousands of feet of jagged rock sitting there waiting to break your ankle while some guy in brand-new high-tech hiking boots tells you how "restorative" the fresh air is. It's phony as hell. ​The trail isn't even really a path, it's just a continuous, miserable scramble over gigantic stone slabs, wet roots, and sheer drop-offs. You go straight up a mountain like Indian Head or Twin, huffing and puffing until you feel like dying, and then the trail just dumps you right back down into a ditch, forcing you to turn around and do it all over again on the next peak. You're grabbing onto tree roots and in the late fall,your sliding down slick, icy rock chimneys, trying not to pitch off the side of a cliff, while wet pine needles drop into your collar. ​Every time you finally drag yourself up to a ledge where the view is supposed to be "life-changing," you end up sitting on a damp stone next to three guys discussing their GPS watches and showing off their expensive trekking poles. It kills me, it really does. The forest itself is nice enough if everybody would just shut up for five minutes. Plus it smells like balsam fir and ancient damp earth, and when the fog rolls in through the hemlocks, it finally feels right to me because its dead quiet and honest. But then i ran into a troop of weekend warriors yelling across the ridge about their lap times. ​If you're crazy enough to tackle all twenty three miles of it which i certaindid not, you'll end up exhausted, soaked in sweat, and covered in mud, wondering why you didn't just stay in the city and get a sandwich and a beer. It'll test if you're tough enough, surelyim not anymore, it just makes me want to go lie down in a warm room by a fireplace with a little glass of brandy where nobody is talking about elevation gain.

Wow, talk about a beautiful drive to get here! Completely isolated with the surrounding town…read morebringing you to the past. The narrow zig-zag roads getting here from the east are a blast to drive on. Taking the devil's path is no joke if you're doing the whole trail. Highly suggest packing light for the hike. Totally regretted my 35lb backpack setup. The elevation spikes and drops will put your knees and ankles to the test. The look out points are gorgeous. Each one deserves to be taken in during a break. The biodiversity is incredible here. You'll notice the nature changes at different points of the hike. Including the areas casted in darkness from the dense trees. The next drinkable source of water from the beginning is a far distance so make sure you pack accordingly. The devils tombstone is the halfway point which is where most people set up camp. Cant harp enough... snacks, snacks, snacks. Stay safe if you choose to part take on this hike! One of the best hikes I've been on.

This place is absolutely amazing! I've hiked all the Catskills mountains three times over through…read morethe years and I had never been to overlook because there was no reason to but I had heard so much about this location I just had to visit and satisfy my curiosity on why this place is so popular. First off the parking lot is medium sized and parking on the road (even off the road) is risky because certain spots you are not allowed to park so arrive early, get a legit parking spot and save yourself the wasted trip or the hassle of returning to your vehicle to a ticket or it completely gone (towed). The hike up and back for Overlook is approximately 5 miles so everyone is spot on mentioning the distance. It's fairly steep all the way up and while you don't have any views on the way up, you do encounter some old ruins which is a neat break along the way. Once you do make it to the top you are met with a small shed that has some very minor historical information inside and on peak weekends you'll find stewards that can assist with information about the area and hiking tips. The fire tower can't be missed to the left after the small shed and the view is to the right of the shed. I have to say, I've been atop many mountains and it's been a long while since I've had my breath taken away but when I saw the view at Overlook it was breath taking. What made the view so beautiful and different than other mountains I've hiked is that the view is expansive with no mountains obstructing so you can see as far as the eyes can see. It's truly a remarkable view being so high up and seeing so far out. This mountain is known for its rattlesnake population. Sadly I never got to see one because I always hike in the early morning hours and they normally come out at around high noon when the sun is the hottest.

Hiking is definitely a love-hate relationship! This mountain goes UP--and I mean all the way up…read more There are barely any flat or straight sections, so you're constantly climbing, weaving around corners, and then going back down just to do it all over again. I had to take frequent breaks to catch my breath because the climb was no joke. And honestly, the tower was probably the scariest part for me. The views from the top were absolutely beautiful, but I had to go up quickly and come back down just as fast because my fear was kicking in! Before tackling the mountain, we also walked a different trail, which was already exhausting. So by the time we started the climb, my legs were definitely feeling it. But once you finally reach the ruins and the tower, it all feels worth it. The scenery and views are honestly incredible, and it's such a beautiful place to see. Just be prepared: before you reach the top, you may question every life decision that brought you there!

This arboretum is free to enter. It has several walking trails with distinct trees in each section…read more The East Meadow takes you through pine alley and was sunny and grassy. The Hemlock Trail was dense with trees and most of the trail was covered in roots. It led to the Hidden Marsh, which had a nice little boardwalk to walk out into the bright, vast marsh. We also checked out Woodlands Walk, which was a short set of loops, with fun little signs that told a cute children's story along the way. There were a few signs on the trails, but there wasn't quite as much information about the trees and plants as I would have expected. Still, it was great for a stroll and some sections felt like easy hiking, so it's a very pleasant place to wander for a few hours.

Mhew! This place is ok if you want to kill time and take a stroll in the woods. While I do…read moreunderstand the term "arboretum" means various trees and plants, I hoped to see some flowers in the mix. I've been to other arboretums in NYS and they have flowers that add to the appeal of visiting these places. I stopped in to kill time since I was early for checking into my camp site nearby. This arboretum had a few miles of trails with various facts about the trees and plants they care for. If you visit be sure to donate to help the staff maintain the property. While it didn't blow me away I do understand and appreciate the hard work that goes into maintaining places like this.

Really super popular hiking spot! Please don't hang off the edge of the viewpoint for a "cool"…read morepicture because heaven forbid you fall to your death the rangers will take their time for the recover since it's highly unlikely you'd survive the fall. I see way too many tourists comfortably sitting on the view point ledge until they slip and tragedy strikes. Enjoy the photo op responsibly, pretty please with sugar on top! As for the actual hike I agree with the few reviews posted up that this is a fairly easy hike because just about all the elevation happens in the first 3/4 mile up. Once you make it to the halfway point and turn left on the blue trail the rest is fairly flat up till Giant Ledge. If you go further on to Panther Mountain you do take a small dip down into the valley toward Panther and you go back up to the peak of Panther. Honestly, unless you have the desire to hike ALL 33 catskill peaks there is no reason to visit Panther in my opinion. Giant ledge has the better view. WATER, bring plenty of water in the summer because the water source with the big ass sign on the trail about a mile up almost never has water flowing because I have yet to even find the darn source the several times I've been up there so I'd consider that water source unreliable so pack water.

Absolutely stunning for a sunrise hike. My friends and I have done this for the past two years…read morearound mid October. Get to the trailhead at 5 AM and spend the next hour and a half climbing to the peak to see sunrise. Excellent bang for your buck Hike. I think it's only like a one and a half mile track, but it's the elevation that gives difficulty. Check out my photos and videos. I highly recommend this.

Beautiful views all around. Paths go through large open fields and brook side woodlands.read more

Such a beautiful place for nature walk. Great place to bring your dog. Serene rivers and benches…read morealong the path to rest and retreat. Parking is right at the start of the trail, I had no problems finding a spot. Definitely check this place out if your looking for a moment to relaxation.

Live this tranquil wooded lake. So calming to get there early am and just sit and gaze across the…read morelake and beautiful surroundings

Love going here. Such a nice place. Dog friendly if your…read moredog is well behaved. Some people don't watch their dogs and the run wild but it's been getting better.

The Hunter "hiking" trail is a really nice trail to hike. All the photos of ski lifts and crap on…read morethis listing is misleading because there are no ski lifts that you can stand beneath and take photos of. You "might" be able to see the ski resort from the Hunter firepower but I've always hiked this in the winter or fall so I never was able to make out the ski resort. There is a ski resort nearby but it's not on this hiking trail. If you hike the loop and want to capture the three Catskill peaks on this trail you are looking at about a 12 mile hike total. This is an uphill hike (counter clockwise) probably until you hit Hunter mountain (fire tower) then it's fairly flat making your way downhill past Rusk but if you opt to include Rusk into your hike be prepared to go straight up because that sucker is straight up hill (no switchbacks). For an all day hike for the average hiker it's a really nice hike.

I created this Hunter Mountain hiking trail yelp to distinguish it from Hunter Mountain and all the…read moreskiing/other activities there. We wanted to check out some hiking while up in Hunter for a birthday and scoured the web to find a trail that might offer us some views, good exercise, and be dog friendly. It seemed this location might fit the bill based on the little info I found out there. First of all, to get here it's about a 30 minute drive from the town of Hunter. You'll basically be hiking up the rear side of the mountain, with many opportunities to customize the route as you'd like! The drive is beautiful along many back roads with fantastic views and a peek inside what it might be like to live a little bit off the grid. You'll follow Spruceton Road to nearly where it dead ends and there will be three parking lots. I'd recommend parking in the first one (largest) as it's the starting point for the majority of the trails. The other lots are smaller and offer you a starting point for some other trails. A disclaimer: this set of trails is commonly described as the "easiest" way of getting up to Hunter and that may be true, but in no way is the an easy hike! Plan to be walking uphill for 1.5-2 miles and for a steep incline...you'll feel the burn up and down! The trail is very well marked and easy to follow, mostly composed of gravel and grass. Very dog friendly and most fluffy friends we saw were off leash. The first two things you'll note on your hike come about 2 miles in, first is a spring (you can actually fill your water bottles here, so clean) and shortly thereafter, you'll catch a small sign for the lean to. A great place for a rest, lunch, view, or fire. We enjoyed our lunch here and took some pictures. There's also an outhouse here where you can take care of any business. From here, you can opt to head back down (4.8 mile total hike), proceed to colonels row (an extra mile each way out and back to the top of where the ski lifts land), or up to the summit and tower (an extra 1.3 mile each way). All are great options, just plans on your level of fitness and interest! Views from fire tower are fantastic on a clear day!

I generally don't find myself deep into the Catskills, until yesterday, but boy was I psyched when…read moreI stopped in for a moment to take a picture or two. Going in, all I could think about was the Catskill Mountains seen in the background and just how high I was. Sitting on top of that mountain (inside my car, that is; I wouldn't be dumb enough to do it any other way), is this mountain range with State land and great photo-op spot. When I saw the deep gorge followed by huge mountain in back of that, all my mind could think about (and I don't advise anyone trying this) is "has anyone ever thrown something intentionally off the ledge into the gorge, just to see how deep it is?" I had noticed a few pieces leading up to the placard explaining the park, but otherwise, no problems exist. Although I never really had a problem with parking, it's only a small park and ride spot over on the side of the road. However, when I got there, I got the best view in the house; I had a nice clear view of the Catskills in front of me, though trying to take a pic, I had to exit my car (due to the nature of my type of picture being iPhone-Panoramic. It's still a great view. I just wouldn't have the guts to head to the placue except for on my iPhone's camera and can read about it online instead. Thanks.

This was my first hike in NY State. The day was perfect. It was mostly flat with a bit of steep…read moreareas. We stopped to see the falls but there want much "falls". We got to an area that has the natural pool, but the water was freezing. There were loads of families, enjoying their food and of course quality time. I'd definitely do this hike again.