- El. 3,780ft
- El. Gain 2,426ft
- 6 Miles out and back
Having done most of my hiking in the Catskills solo, I have little distraction from the terrain around me. I've hiked Wittenberg a number of times and this hike is such a classic Catskills hike that I continually return to repeat it. It is difficult, beautiful, densly forested, and has a variety of forest and rocky climbing. Wittenberg Mountain from Woodland Valley ascending the red marked Burroughs Range Trail is at the top of my best day hikes in the Catskills.
Wittenberg Mountain Trail Guide
- El. 3,880ft
- El. Gain 1,900ft
- 6.2 Miles out and back
At number 2 is a trail that could easily be the number 1. A trail with as much variety as Wittenberg has at number 1, this trail is at number 2 because I feel Wittenberg's last mile before the summit is the most intricate in the Catskills. Still, West Kill is a close second and has my favorite vista in the Catskills with the Buck Ridge Lookout. This is also a trail I have completed a number of times and one of only 2 trails I have brought family members on.
West Kill Mountain Trail Guide
- El. 3,720ft
- El. Gain 1,900ft
- 6.5 Miles out and back
Located in Ulster County in New York State is one of the most popular scenic hiking trails in The Catskills. Best to arrive early, very early, as this small parking lot can fill before 6am on weekends during hiking seasons. Just over 2 hours north of New York City, Giant Ledge is accessed along the trail to the summit of Panther Mountain. A mild trail to the ledges at just over 1.5 miles, hikers can elevate the challenge and continue on another 1.6 miles to the summit of Panther Mountain for similar views from roughly 600ft higher.
- El. 4,040ft
- El. Gain 2,400ft
- 6.2 Miles out and back
Located in Greene County New York in the Catskill Mountains, Hunter Mountain is the second tallest mountain peak in the Catskills at 4,040ft. Although heavily associated with the Hunter Mountain Ski Resort located on the northern side of the mountain, the trails, summit, and terrain offer a spectacular journey through the natural forest of the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness.
- Falls height 260ft
- El. Gain 400ft
- Less than 2 miles out and back
Located in Greene County New York in the Catskill Mountains, Kaaterskill Falls is a double tier and one of the tallest waterfalls in the northeastern United States. The upper and lower sections of the falls have a combined height of 260ft. There are a number of trails that give access to the lower falls as well as a viewing platform and ledges.
