Please continue to follow recommendations on safety and social distancing from New York State and the CDC. Use your best judgement when traveling and keep alternate plans in mind if you’re visiting a trailhead that happens to be very busy. This is going to be a very hot and sunny weekend coming after a serious deluge from earlier in the week. When out on the trail plan for long hot days, bring plenty of water and electrolytes, and be very cautious of high water levels and the remnants of flash flooding
Trail Conditions: Be aware that Tuesday’s tropical storm has wreaked havoc in the Catskills. Roads and trails will undoubtedly have downed trees and damage from flooding. Be prepared to turn back on your hike should conditions be too severe. Because of the current wet and muddy conditions consider wearing big boots, gaiters, and carrying trekking poles for extra stability. Keep a close eye on pets while out on the trails and avoid fast flowing water crossings. In addition, please be aware of critical closures in the Catskill Park. Full list below.
Weekend Weather Forecast (reporting for Mt. Tremper, NY): Thursday, mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light and variable wind. Thursday night, a slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Friday, a chance of showers, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Friday night, a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Saturday, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Saturday night, mostly clear, with a low around 59. Sunday, sunny, with a high near 87. Sunday night, mostly clear, with a low around 62. (Source: National Weather Service, NOAA)
Trail Register Information: (the books found inside metal boxes at the start of all hiking trails): The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation encourages all visitors to continue to sign in and out at trail registers. These provide important information on trail usage and hiker safety. It is suggested to choose one person in your group to fill in the register for everyone, consider bringing your own pen or pencil, and bring hand sanitizer to use before and after touching the trail register.
Catskills Fire Towers Update:
· The Hunter Fire Tower and Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower top cabs are now open on Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays, staffed by a Catskill Center volunteer. The Tremper Mountain Fire Tower cab is now open for visitors to explore on their own 7 days a week, one household at a time. Please use hand sanitizer and wear a face mask if you choose to climb any of the fire towers. For more information, and for information on COVID -19 safety at the towers, please visit the Catskill Center’s news site: http://www.catskillcenter.org/news
· Overlook Mountain Fire Tower, Red Hill Fire Tower, and the Upper Esopus Fire Tower trails and staircases are reopened to hikers. The top cabs are currently closed. Please use hand sanitizer and wear a face mask if you choose to climb any of the fire towers.
Temporary Closures: The following destinations are closed in the Catskills. For any information or clarification, please feel free to call (845) 688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org:
· Kaaterskill Falls trail via Route 23A is closed. There is no parking permitted on Route 23A. Laurel House Trail and the trails above the falls have been reopened.
· DEC has temporarily stopped issuing permits for backcountry camping for groups of 10 or more. As of June 11, the DEC resumed issuing permits for groups of fewer than 10 people who would like to stay for more than three nights at one location on state lands. DEC is also temporarily restricting lean-to use to members of a single household at a time.
Recent Reopenings:
· A service window is available at the Catskills Visitor Center in Mt Tremper, NY. Visitor Center staff is available Monday-Saturday to provide resources and information, and to answer any questions. Please continue to follow best practices by wearing a face mask when approaching the window.
Hunter, NY and Kaaterskill Clove (Route 23A) Update: Beginning on the weekend of August 8th, The Town of Hunter will be operating a Vehicle impound Lot located at 5748, Route 23A, Tannersville NY (Town Hall). Any illegally parked vehicle will be ticketed and then towed to the Town Hall Impound Lot which will be manned by a Town of Hunter Police Officer until 9pm.
Peekamoose Blue Hole: ** Permits are already booked for this coming weekend. ** The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is temporarily reducing by half (from 50 to 25) the number of permits issued per day to visit the Peekamoose Blue Hole in the town of Denning. DEC permits are required to visit this site on weekends and holidays from May 15 – September 13. Permits are available as late as one day in advance, but more no more than seven days in advance. Permits can be acquired from the Reserve America website at: https://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com
Hike Safe Tip of the Week: Check the Heat Index for your location before going outside and when you’re planning to do any physical exertion. You can download a handy app on your phone to get the most up-to-date heat index information. Heat index is a calculation not only of air temperature but also relative humidity to give you a “felt air temperature.”” Know the warning signs of heat-related illnesses, and plan to pack at least 2 to 3 liters of water for a day hike, more if you’re traveling with pets.
As always, bring a mask, even on the trails. While hiking with the people you live with, wearing a mask is not mandatory. However, while on summits, trailheads, points of interest, and even passing others please wear a mask to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Especially in areas such as parking lots and trailheads, there has been a reduction in people actively wearing masks. The continued use of masks in these areas is incredibly important for the general the health and safety of all in the Catskills.
Graham and Doubletop Mountain Access: From theCatskill 3500 Club. “For permission to hike on Graham or Doubletop, call Bill, the caretaker, at his office number: (845) 586-4099. He will be responding during Monday-Friday business hours. This is a landline, so texts will not work. He will no longer be replying to the cell number originally listed, even if it is a text. Follow the guidance for your region and only ask for permission to hike if travel is appropriate. Please be respectful of these protocols so that we do not lose access to these mountains.”
Recreate Responsibly: An informative and timely 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 to decrease your chance of exposure to COVID-19.
Carry It In, Carry It Out: The Catskill Park is a carry it in, carry it out park—please be sure to hike out all of your trash and dispose of it properly!
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 currently closed, however trails remain open. Please remember to socially distance when visiting the CVC’s trails by giving other visitors 6 feet minimum distance and wearing a mask when you meet others.
Email us at the Catskills Visitor Center: info@catskillcenter.org, call us at 845-688-3369, or visit our service window in person Monday-Saturday from 10-3.
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
