Weekend of April 28

You know what they say about April showers. The Catskills will see clouds and rain for most of the weekend. Expect mostly cloudy skies and afternoon showers on Friday, with a high of 57 degrees. Saturday will be cooler, overcast, and rainy, with a high of 47 degrees. A steady rain is expected Sunday with a high of 56 degrees. Higher elevations could be much cooler so remember to carry extra layers. Trails can be wet, muddy, or even icy in early spring; wear waterproof footwear and gaiters. Still, use bug repellent to protect yourself against ticks when out on trail. Perform tick checks periodically, especially after hiking through brushy sections.

Trail Conditions: This week’s trail conditions are sponsored by Phoenicia Lodge. Trails will be wet and soggy in most areas. Friday will be overcast early with rain showers in the afternoon and a high of 58F. We’ll see a steady rain overnight Friday night with a low of 42F. Saturday will be cooler and rainy all day with a high of 53F. Saturday night will see light rain with a low of 45F. Sunday will be rainy with a high of 57F. Sunday night will see light rain with a low of 47F. Prepare for your hike with proper boots and ankle gaiters, and walk directly through mud puddles to prevent trail widening and damaging fragile plants. 

Sunrise is at 5:57 am and sunset is at 7:52 pm. We’ll see a Waxing Gibbous moon this weekend. Always bring a headlamp or flashlight with you in case your hike takes longer than planned, and never rely solely on your phone flashlight. 

Weekend Weather Forecast (reporting for Mt. Tremper, NY): Friday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 57F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Friday night: Overcast with showers at times. Low 41F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Saturday: Rain. High 47F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Saturday night: Steady light rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low 43F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Sunday: Rain showers in the morning will evolve into a more steady rain in the afternoon. High 56F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Sunday night: Periods of rain. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 46F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch.

Source: Weather.com

THIS WEEK’S HIKING TIP:  Protect yourself against ticks. It is recommended to use a combination of bug spray and Permethrin as a good defense against any ticks you come across on your hikes. If you’re in an area with a high concentration of ticks, you should use both of these defense methods. (Permethrin is a bug repellant that will stay on your clothes for 6 weeks or through 6 washes).

Annual Burn ban in effect through May 14. Open burning is the single greatest cause of wildfires in NYS. Since the spring burn ban was implemented in 2009, the number of wildfires has decreased by more than 40%. Click here for more information. 

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

Fishing Notice: Trout season runs from April 1-Oct 15. For more information, visit NYSDEC. 

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

Catskills Fire Tower Challenge 2023: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) 2023 Fire Tower Challenge is under way and runs through Dec 31, 2023. 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 Fire Tower Project website and the DEC’s Fire Tower Challenge website.

Recreate Responsibly: There is an informative new set of guidelines put together by several outdoor organizations. The Catskill Center recommends following the Recreate Responsibly principles and taking precautions before, during, and after your outing.

Trail Register Information: (the books found inside metal boxes at the start of all hiking trails) The NYSDEC encourages 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:

• Molly Smith Trailhead on Route 23A – Kaaterskill Wild Forest (Town of Hunter) remains closed for safety reasons. DEC recommends visitors access Kaaterskill Falls by parking at the Laurel House Road, Schutt Road, or South Lake parking areas.

Temporary Closures: 

511NY road closure map (updated daily)

• Catskills Trail Conditions Facebook Group (updated regularly by locals and visitors to the area)
• Catskills 3500 Club Facebook homepage with updates
• Ulster County Road Closures

Doubletop and Graham Access: Public access to the two 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..

Peekamoose Blue Hole: Permits are not required at this time, as it is off-season. Permits are required every day of the week to access the entirety of the Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor during the permit season. This includes day hike access to Peekamoose and Table Mountains, camping, access to the Blue Hole, and Buttermilk Falls. DEC permits are required to visit this site from May 15 – Sept 15. Permits can be acquired from the Reserve America website at: https://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com

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.

In An Emergency: Report backcountry emergencies, such as lost or injured hikers and forest fires, to the DEC Forest Rangers at 518-408-5850 or call 911.

The Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center (CVC) hosts a weather station in the MesoWest Network. Check the current weather conditions. The Center is located at 5096 Route 28 in Mt Tremper, NY. The Visitor Center building is open from 9:30 am-4 pm 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.

Most Recent Trail Update | NYSDEC Catskill Backcountry Info | CVC Online Gift Shop

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