Hunter-West Kill Wilderness

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Devil's Path (25.2 miles, red markers): Devil's Path is a popular and challenging trail extending from the Prediger Road Parking Area in Indian Head Wilderness west to County Route 6 (Spruceton Road) in the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness. The trail crosses the summits on Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, Plateau, and West Kill mountains. About 11.4 miles of the trail traverse the northeast portion of the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness.

Diamond Notch Trail (2.7 miles, blue markers): The Diamond Notch trail was once a road converted into a trail in the 1930s. The trail extends south from Spruceton Road through Diamond Notch, and descends down to connect with Diamond Notch Road. At 1 mile, the trail passes Diamond Notch Falls and the intersection with the Devils Path. At 2.2 miles, the trail passes a lean-to and the diamond notch.

Hunter Mountain Trail (1.7 miles, yellow makers): The Hunter Mountain Trail connects the Devil's Path to the summit of Hunter Mountain. The Hunter Mountain Fire Tower is on Rusk Mountain Wild Forest.

Becker Hollow Trail (2.2 miles, yellow markers): The Becker Hollow Trail extends from NYS Route 24 to the Hunter Mountain Trail. The Becker Hollow Route offers the shortest trail up Hunter Mountain. It is also the second hardest route to the top and gets very steep near the top.

General information on backcountry camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Hunter-West Kill Wilderness has three lean-tos, Diamond Notch, Devil's Acre and John Robb.

• Diamond Notch lean-to is located on the Diamond Notch Trail 0.5 miles south of the falls and features a fire pit and privy.
• Devil's Acre lean-to is located on Devil's Path near the intersection with the Hunter Mountain Trail and features a fire pit but does not have a privy.
• John Robb lean-to is located off the Spructon Trail in the Rusk Mountain Wild Forest.

Additionally, primitive camping is allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.

Camping is prohibited above an elevation of 3,500 feet in the Catskills, between March 21 and December 21.

General information on cross-country skiing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Hunter-West Kill Wilderness is open to cross-country skiing in the winter. There are no groomed or maintained trails, however cross-country skiing is permitted on all hiking trails.

General information on snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Hunter-West Kill Wilderness is open to snowshoeing in the winter. There are no groomed or maintained trails, however snowshoeing is permitted on all hiking trails.

General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules and regulations.

The nearby West Kill follows Spruceton Road. The West Kill flows for 11 miles before entering Schoharie Creek just below the village of Lexington. Wild trout are found throughout the stream, but they are most abundant in the upper 8 miles. Wild brown trout can be found in all sections of the stream, but rainbow trout are found mostly in the lower reaches, and brook trout numbers increase as one heads upstream. In addition, approximately 700 yearling brown trout are stocked in the lower 3 miles of stream.

For Public Fishing Rights (PFR) on the West Kill, visit DECinfo Locator- Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map (DECinfo Locator is best viewed on a desktop computer. Users are encouraged to visit the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide first for "how to" instructions on using the fishing map).

East- Central NY Fishing provides information on fishing in the Catskills and links to top fishing waters, stocking lists, public fishing access and waters open to ice fishing listed by county.

Wildlife Management Unit: 3A

General information on hunting includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, bear, bobcat, coyote, and fisher.

Wildlife Management Unit: 3A

General information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Trapping is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, bear, bobcat, coyote, and fisher.

General information on watchable wildlife includes tips for viewing wildlife and links to other watchable wildlife locations.

The Catskills are home to an abundance of wildlife. With both larger mammals (including deer, bear, and bobcat) as well as smaller mammals (including porcupine and fisher) the Catskills have several unique habitats. In addition to the many mammals found in the Catskills, hundreds of species of birds can also be found.

This remote wilderness area includes Hunter Mountain - second-highest peak in the Catskills - and three other summits within the Catskill High Peaks Bird Conservation Area. Outdoors enthusiasts as well as wildlife are drawn to dazzling and often steep terrain.