Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest

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

One of the primary trailheads in the unit provides access to the Dry Brook Ridge trail, and lies just outside of the hamlet of Margaretville on South Side Road. Additional trails in the unit include the Huckleberry Loop Trail off of Huckleberry Brook Road, and the German Hollow Trail, accessed from Chris Long Road.

Dry Brook Ridge Trail (13.6 miles, blue markers) starts at the North End of the Dry Brook Ridge Parking Lot, located off of South Side Road.

The trail starts on an old logging road uphill. The summit of Pakatakan Mountain (2,500 feet) is at 1.8 miles. At 2.65 miles is the junction of yellow-blazed German Hollow Trail. At 3.5 miles is the junction of red blazed Huckleberry Loop. Continue straight following the blue markers to stay on Dry Brook Ridge. At 5 miles, the trail skirts Dry Brook Ridge with fine views to the west. The summit of Dry Brook Ridge is 3,460 feet.

At 9.9 miles, the trail reaches the Parking Area at Millbrook Road. From there the trail continues on to private property (please respect the private property) before returning back onto the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest.

At 11.75 miles, you reach the first junction with the red-blazed Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. At 12.7 miles you find the second junction to Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. About a mile further is the summit of this mountain. The trail ends at 13.6 miles at the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area in the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest.

German Hollow Trail (1.7 miles, yellow markers) begins at the German Hollow Trailhead on Chris Long Road and extends to mile 2.65 of the Dry Brook Ridge Trail.

Huckleberry Loop Trail (10.5 miles, red and blue markers) is a semi-circle, connecting at two ends with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. The trailhead is accessed from the Huckleberry Brook Road Parking Area.

Starting eastward, the trail accessed 1,450 feet and 2.7 miles to the intersection with the Dry Brook Trail. Then follows the Dry Brook Ridge Trail (blue markers) for 2.5 miles where it again intersects the Huckleberry Brook Trail at 4.2 miles. It turns south, descending 1.2 miles to Ploutz Road. Cross the road and the trail continues descent, crossing a stream and beginning its climb up Huckleberry Brook Ridge. The trail meanders west along a ridge for 5.5 miles, then it heads north and descends to Huckleberry Brook Road at 9.8 miles. Turn right and walk 0.7 miles to the parking area.

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

Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest features the Pakatakan lean-to located along the Dry Brook Ridge Trail just past the German Hollow Trail.

At large backcountry 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. Campsites must be below 3,500 feet in elevation.

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

Biking is allowed on the trails in the Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest except where posted. However, no trails in this wild forest are maintained for biking.

Wildlife Management Unit: 3A

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

Hunting is allowed in Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, bear, beaver, 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 in Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, bear, beaver, bobcat, coyote, and fisher.

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

Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest 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.

Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest 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 animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.

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 in the Catskills.