Weekend of December 20

Weekend of December 20, 2024

The Catskills are slated for crisp and cold hiking conditions this weekend with a few snow showers on tap and possible icy sections expected on some trails. Temperatures will range from the high-teens to the low-30’s. We start the weekend with generally cloudy skies on Friday with snow showers becoming steady and accumulating snow later in the day- with up to 3 inches expected. Winds will be light and variable and highs will reach near 32°F. Clouds and snow showers stick around into Friday night. We’ll see lows around 22°F with calm winds and a 40% chance of snow. Saturday continues to be cloudy and chilly, becoming partly cloudy later in the day. We’ll see a high near 25°F with winds picking up to 10-20 mph. Saturday night is again cloudy and much colder with skies clearing later on. Overnight temps will drop to single digits, down to around 7°F. We’ll see some sun on Sunday with clear skies expected. Anticipate a high near 18°F with light northwest winds at 5-10 mph. Skies remain clear into Sunday evening but will be very cold with temps dropping to single digits again, down to 3°F. Higher elevations will be cooler.

Trail Conditions: This week’s trail conditions are sponsored by PKBrown Woodworking. Expect generally favorable trail conditions this weekend, with icy sections in some areas. Prepare for your hike with proper boots and ankle gaiters, and trekking poles. Anticipate colder temperatures at higher elevations. Pack appropriate layers and gear in case your trip goes longer than planned or an unexpected overnight occurs. Carry a trail map with you.

Sunrise is at 7:21 am and sunset is at 4:28 pm. We’ll see a Waning Gibbous moon on Friday and Saturday, followed by a Last Quarter Moon on Sunday. Always bring a headlamp or flashlight with you in case your hike takes longer than planned, and never rely solely on your phone flashlight.

Gear Rental: Rest assured that you may trek safely as the Catskills Visitor Center has outdoor gear for rent, such as snowshoes, crampons and trekking poles, and more. Visit https://catskillsvisitorcenter.org/rentals/ for more information on our rentals.

Catskill Stewards: Established by the Catskill Center in 2018 as a response to high use in the Catskill Park, today the Catskill Stewards program runs at four high-use trailheads throughout the Catskills, Catskill fire towers, and along the Devil’s Path. Our stewards are seasonal employees who work to help visitors understand the importance of responsible recreation in the outdoors. Our stewards are trained Leave No Trace educators and certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Emergency Situations: If you get lost or injured, keep calm and stay put. If you have cell service, call 911 or the DEC Forest Ranger Dispatch, 833-NYS-RANGERS (833-697-7264).

Practice Leave No Trace: Please abide by the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace when recreating in the Catskills.

Hike Smart by packing the proper gear. See the NYS DEC’s recommended packing list (PDF) and safety tips.

WARNING: Backcountry conditions can change suddenly. All users should plan accordingly, including bringing flashlights, first-aid equipment, extra food, and clothing. Weather conditions may alter your plans; you should always be prepared to spend an unplanned night in the woods before entering the backcountry. Backcountry hiking trails can be rugged and rough; they are not maintained so wear proper footwear!

Travel: Plan on arriving at your destination early and have several back-up plans in place in case parking at your desired location is full.

Weekend Weather Forecast (reporting for Mt. Tremper, NY): Friday: Cloudy with snow showers becoming a steady accumulating snow later on. High 32F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches. Friday night: Cloudy with snow showers developing after midnight. Low 22F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Saturday: Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High near 25F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Saturday night: Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 6F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Sunday: A mainly sunny sky. High 18F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Sunday night: Clear skies. Low 3F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Source: Weather.com

THIS WEEK’S HIKING TIP: Be prepared for winter weather conditions. Bring the right gear: layers of clothing, warm outer layers, sunglasses and sunscreen, and lots of water and snacks. Traction devices are always recommended when walking on ice and snow.

Always verify that dogs are permitted on a hiking trail before departing. Most national and state parks do not allow dogs. When mapping out your hike, do research online or contact the managing agency and ask if their trails are dog-friendly. Even if dogs aren’t required by law to be on a leash, it’s a good idea to keep them leashed for their protection. When hiking, be respectful of other hikers and dogs, and don’t stray from designated trails. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog and don’t let it wander off. Between wild animals, like venomous snakes, and potentially toxic plants, keeping your dog close by your side will prevent mishaps. Learn how to practice Leave No Trace.

Peekamoose Blue Hole: Permits are no longer required to access the Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor. This includes day hike access to Peekamoose and Table Mountains, camping, and access to the Blue Hole and Buttermilk Falls. Permits are required every day of the week (from May 15-September 15) to access the entirety of the Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor during the permit season. DEC permits are required to visit this site from May 15 – Sept 15. Permits can be acquired by visiting Reservearmerica.com.

NYSDEC Blue Hole information in Spanish here

Catskills Fire Tower Challenge 2024: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) 2024 Fire Tower Challenge is under way and runs through Dec 31, 2024. Hikers can earn a prize and a certificate for climbing all six fire towers in the Catskill Park — Overlook, Red Hill, Balsam Lake, Mount Tremper, Hunter, and the Upper Esopus (at the Catskills Visitor Center). Stewardship of the fire towers is a partnership with the Catskill Center. Learn more by visiting the Catskill Center’s Catskill Fire Tower Project website and the DEC’s Fire Tower Challenge website.

Hunting Season Information: Hunting is among the most popular forms of wildlife recreation in New York State. Nearly 700,000 New Yorkers and over 50,000 nonresidents hunt in the Empire State. New York offers many exciting opportunities to hunt a large variety of wildlife, including big game, small game, game birds and furbearers.

Find your next adventure using DECinfo Locator – an interactive map featuring wildlife management areas, WMU boundaries, parking areas, trail heads, and other information to help plan an excursion on state-managed lands.

Hunting season dates are split up by zone, with the Catskills region in the Southern Zone. Check out DEC’s 2024-2025 hunting and trapping guide here for pertinent hunting and licensing information, season dates, where to report your harvests, and more. Remember to be safe, and be seen by wearing hunter orange or pink.

Below are the hunting date ranges for the Southern Zone:

Muzzleloading: Deer of either sex- December 9 to December 15, and December 26 to January 1, 2025.
Late Bowhunting-December 9 to December 17, and December 26 to January 1, 2025.

Fishing Notice: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Season is here. The open (harvest) season for largemouth and smallmouth bass, collectively known as black bass, began June 15 and runs through Nov. 30. Check out DEC’s Freshwater fishing Regulations Guide for more information such as statewide seasons, guidelines, and limits.

Free Fishing Days: TBD

Free fishing days offer residents and non-residents who are 16 and older* to fish without a freshwater fishing license or recreational marine fishing registration. (*Kids under 16 can always fish for free!) Free fishing days calendar will be posted once the 2024 schedule is released from NYSDEC.

For more information, visit NYSDEC.

Trail Register Information: (the books found inside metal boxes at the start of all hiking trails) We encourage all visitors to continue to sign in and out at trail registers. These registers provide important information on trail usage and hiker safety.

Seasonal Roads and Trailhead Closures: The following roads are seasonal roads that are not maintained during winter months and are generally closed from November to April 15 of each year:

South Lake Road- Located within the North-South Lake Campground and Day Use Area in the town of Hunter, Greene County, South Lake Road is closed for dam maintenance. South Lake Road and the South Lake Dam will be closed to public use for the duration of the construction project and parking will be limited to the parking area at the entrance to the facility.
Molly Smith Trailhead on Route 23A – Kaaterskill Wild Forest (Town of Hunter)
DEC recommends visitors access Kaaterskill Falls by parking at the Laurel House Road, Schutt Road, or South Lake parking areas.
Platte Clove Mountain Road (Indian Head Wilderness-in the town of Hunter) is a seasonal limited use highway that is generally closed to vehicles from November 15 to April 15. There will be road construction in the Spring of 2025, so the road will not open until mid-May 2025. You can still walk down the closed section of the road. The scheduled re-opening is weather permitting. Check for updates on the Town of Hunter’s website.
Elka Park Road (Roaring Kill Section) in the town of Hunter. Scheduled reopening will be weather permitting.
Big Hollow Road – Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness (Town of Windham)
Russell Brook Road – Delaware Wild Forest (Town of Colchester)
Mary Smith Road – Delaware Wild Forest (Town of Colchester)
Ploutz Road – DryBrook Wild Forest (Town of Middletown)
Doubletop and Graham Access: Public access to both peaks has ended. We at the Catskill Center are thankful to the landowners who have made their property accessible to hikers for many years and respect their decision. The Catskill 3500 Club has decided that the remaining 33 peaks will make up the collection of Catskill mountains to be hiked for club membership..

For More Information:

Carry In, Carry Out: The Catskill Park is a carry in, carry out park — please be sure to hike out with all of your trash and dispose of it properly. Note that most trails will not have any garbage receptacles. Always be prepared to take any garbage back with you.

Weather: Be aware of and prepared for changing weather conditions in the Catskills. Stay current with the National Weather Service Weather Forecast. The NY Mesonet has stations in and just outside of Catskills that provide real time weather data and forecasts. Hudson Valley Weather provides detailed forecasts for the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. The Catskills Visitor Center hosts a weather station in the MesoWest Network – check the current weather conditions.

No Overnight Camping at Trailheads: Overnight camping is not permitted at trailheads or other roadside locations where a camping disc is not present. This includes individuals sleeping in cars, vans, and campers. Campers should seek out designated roadside campsites marked with a “camp here” disc or campgrounds. When camping, always carry out what you carry in and dispose of trash properly. Use designated bathroom facilities, pack out human and pet waste, or dig a cat hole.

Have a Back-up Plan: The Catskills is a popular destination with limited parking in most places. Well-known trails get crowded and parking spots fill up quickly and early. Have several backup plans. If you arrive at your desired location and cannot find parking, move on to backup locations until you find a place with safe, legal parking.

Layer Up: Temperatures can change significantly depending on your location, the time of day, and your elevation. Stay safe and warm by wearing non-cotton, moisture-wicking base layers, insulating layers, and waterproof, windproof outer layers. Gaiters can help keep your lower legs and feet dry. Bring additional layers. Wear sturdy waterproof boots that are already broken in.

Manage your time wisely: Be mindful of sunrise and sunset times and plan accordingly. Start long hikes early to maximize sunlight hours and always bring a headlamp. Set a turnaround time and stick to it.

To report a wildfire, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264) or contact a forest ranger in your area.

The information provided may not reflect current specific conditions. Contact the local Forest Ranger for more current and specific information by calling 518-897-1300 or check the list of Region 3 Forest Rangers or Region 4 Forest Rangers for direct contact information.

The Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center (CVC) is the official visitor center for the Catskill Park and is at 5096 Route 28 in Mt Tremper, NY. The Visitor Center building is open from 9:30 am-4 pm every day from April through November, and Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from December through March. Trails open from dawn to dusk. Email us at the Catskills Visitor Center: info@catskillcenter.org, or call us at (845) 688-3369. The Center’s online store carries trail maps, trail guides, and more for purchase.

Last updated: December 19, 2024

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