Kaaterskill Wild Forest

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

Kaaterskill Falls Access

From the Laurel-House Road parking area: 0.3 miles to the observation platform overlooking Kaaterskill falls. This firm gravel trail has minimal elevation change with a typical grade of 7%, and provides outstanding views of the falls and valley below (see accessibility information below). A 0.7-mile hike from the parking area leads from the gravel trail to a more naturalized section of trail, descending a moderately steep slope down to the lower pools at the base of the falls. Proper footwear is encouraged.

From the Scutt Road parking area: Follow the blue-marked Escarpment trail south. At 0.5 miles, continue on the blue-marked trail (please sign in and out at the register). Crossing the Spruce Brook bridge leads to the viewing platform, continuing along the Escarpment trail leads to the junction with the yellow-marked Lower Falls trail.

From the South Lake parking lot (North South Lake Campground): Walk south along South Lake Road for approximately 200 meters to the yellow-marked South-Lake access road on the right. Follow this trail to the next trail junction, and continue on the blue-marked Escarpment trail toward the Spruce Creek bridge or the Lower Falls trail.

Watch a video of safety improvements at Kaaterskill Falls.

Long Path

The Long Path is a backpacking trail that extends through the Catskill Forest Preserve. The trail traverses the Kaaterskill Wild Forest and connects to the adjacent Indian Head Wilderness to the south and Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness to the north. In the northern section of the Kaaterskill Wild Forest the path follows the Harding Road Trail and the Escarpment Trail. It continues to follow the Escarpment Trail into the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness.

Kaaterskill High Peak Trail (6.5 miles; elevation gain: 911 feet, elevation loss: -904 feet)

This snowmobile trail encircles Roundtop Mountain and Kaaterskill High Peak. It also connects with the southern portion of the Long Path. This trail is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders in the warm months. From the south the trail is accessed from the Steenburg Road parking area off of Platte Clove Road. Follow the Long Path (blue markers) north. Take a left at mile 3.4 and connect to the Kaaterskill High Peak Trail. The trail curves west, and wraps around Kaaterskill Peak and Roundtop Mountain. Note, reaching the actual summit of Kaaterskill High Peak require using an unmarked herd path that DEC does not maintain.

Huckleberry Point Trail (2.4 miles, elevation gain: 644 feet)

The trailhead is accessed from the Steenburg Road Parking Area off of Platte Clove Road. From the parking area head north following the blue markers up the Long Path. At the 1-mile mark go right (east) on the Huckleberry Point Trail. Follow the Huckleberry Point Trail's yellow markers 1.4 miles for rewarding views of the Hudson Valley, Overlook Mountain and peaks in the Indian Head Wilderness to the southwest.

Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail (4.9 miles)

This horse trail runs north to south along the eastern border of Kaaterskill Wild Forest. This trail is open to hiking as well and is marked with red trail markers. It connects the Long Path with the Mountain House Turnpike wear Rip Van Winkle Historic House site is found.

Poet's Ledge (3.6 miles, elevation gain 1,661 feet)

Access the trailhead from the Harding Road Parking Area located off of NYS Route 23A. From the parking area follow NYS Route 23A west to Malden Ave, follow the trail past the barriers. From the parking area the trail follows the Long Path for the first 3.0 miles. At mile 3.0 take a right and travel 0.5 mile north to Poets Ledge.

Buttermilk Falls (also 4.8 miles)

Buttermilk Falls is a scenic waterfall located on the Long Path. Falls can be reached from the south (4.8 miles) starting from the Steenburg Road Parking Area off of Platte Clove Road or the east (also 4.8 miles) starting from the Harding Road Parking Area located off of NYS Route 23A in Palenville.

Escarpment Trail (9.8 miles in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, 23.9 miles total)

The Escarpment Trail is a 23.9-mile section of trail that runs from the Schutt Road Parking Area in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest north along the northeast corner of the Catskill Mountains through the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, Windham Blackhead Range Wilderness, and Elm Ridge Wild Forest, ending at the Route 23 Parking Area in the Elm Ridge Wild Forest.

From Schutt Road Parking Area cross the road and follow the blue trail markers. At mile 0.5 the trail intersects with the Schutt Road Trail. To continue on the Escarpment Trail follow the blue markers. At mile 1.2, the reaches Layman's Monument, a tribute to an early 20th century fallen firefighter, and turns sharply east. At mile 1.65, the trail intersects a yellow blazed trail that would lead to the Schutt Road Trail. Continue on the Escarpment Trail to mile 1.75 to reach Sunset Rock and mile 1.9 for Inspiration Rock, both with scenic vistas of the Kaaterskill Clove and Kaaterskill High Peak.

At mile 2.7, the trail joins the Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail briefly, then meets Long Path and turns left and ascends, northward toward South Mountain. At mile 3.15, there is a junction with the Schutt Road Trail on the left (west). The Escarpment Trail turns east. At mile 3.8 there is a red marked trail that bypasses Boulder Rock. Following the Escarpment Trail, Boulder Rock is at mile 4.0. The site of the former Catskill Mountain House is at mile 4.5.

At mile 4.75 there is the Parking area at North South Lake Campground. Follow blue discs. At mile 5.25 is Artists Rock with its excellent views of the Hudson Valley. At mile 5.75, your right is a yellow blazed side trail that leads to Lookout Rock and 0.2 mile to Sunset Rock. This is another Sunset Rock. Mile 5.95, reach Newman's Ledge with more excellent views of Hudson Valley.

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

Additionally, at large 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.

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 Kaaterskill 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 Kaaterskill 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 snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Snowmobiling is available in Kaaterskill Wild Forest on the Kaaterskill High Peak Trail and on Long Path from the Steenburg Road parking area off of Platte Clove Road. See the trail description above in Hiking.

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

There are no groomed or maintained trails for cross country skiing, 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.

There are no groomed or maintained trails for snowshoeing, however it is permitted on all hiking trails.

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

Kaaterskill Wild Forest is open to horseback riding, the horse trails in the unit include sections of the Escarpment Trail, Schutt Road Trail, Yellow Horse Trail, Harding Road Trail, Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail, and Mountain House Turnpike Trail. Proof of current negative Coggins certificate is required for all horses and out-of-state horse owners are required to produce a 30-day health certificate.

From the Schutt Road Parking Area, the Escarpment Trail across the street is a horse trail until it reaches the junction with the Schutt Road Trail. From there, the Schutt Road Trail creates a horse trail loop with the Yellow Horse Trail and a piece of the Escarpment Trail that connects the two. At the Intersection of Escarpment Trail and the Yellow Horse Trail, there is a connection to the Harding Road Trail which is a horse trail that leads to the Harding Road Parking Area, off of NYS Route 23A in Palenville.

The Harding Road Trail also connects to the Sleepy Hollow which leads to the Mountain House Turnpike, another horse trail. The trail winds down through Rip Van Winkle Hollow, down the escarpment to Castle Road.

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.