Huntersfield Mountain

View from Huntersfield Mountain
(All images mine)

Huntersfield Mountain is one of the forgotten Catskill peaks. At 3,422 feet, it is a mere 78 feet short of being a Catskill High Peak and it lies a couple miles north of Catskill Park. That doesn't mean it is not worth visiting, though. The summit, the 42nd-highest peak in the Catskills, lies on the Greene/Schoharie county line and it is the highest point in Schoharie County, For relatively little effort, there are stunning views southeast toward Windham Mountain. A lean-to is at the top of the mountain if you wish to spend the night and the summit is marked by a USGS benchmark. New York has no county high point two-fers; Greene County has two dozen or so higher peaks. A few things I should note:

1. This trail is generally unmarked. The main trail I follow in this guide is easy to follow. The trail is officially-designated and entirely within Huntersfield State Forest.
2. While not too far from Albany, the area is remote and rarely visited. Don't count on seeing another person if you run into trouble. I had cell service for most, if not all, of the hike with Verizon, a rarity for hikes in New York's mountains.
3. This is bear country. The northern Catskill Mountains have one of the highest black bear populations in the northeast. Given that this area is rarely visited, bears do roam. I did not see any bears while hiking this trail, but do be aware that you may encounter one (or signs of one). I would recommend bringing bear spray and something that makes noise. Bring a bear canister if you're spending the night at the lean-to. While not required, I wouldn't camp here without one.

Now that we have that stuff out of the way, it's hiking time. Do note that I took this hike shortly before I decided to start blogging, so pictures are minimal. I generally take at least 15 photos per mile of hike, with many hikes getting over 30/mile. I took 9 photos on this hike, total, and looking back at what I have, some of these are of poor quality. I generally wouldn't post a hike without a full slate of pictures, but there is very little information on this mountain and I was generally relying on information from a friend and a topographic map. I did this hike in November and there was snow near the summit. In most years, it is impossible to get to the quarry trailhead this late in the year due to snow, but the fall was unusually warm.

From the trailhead, an old woods road departs to the east. This road follows the ridgeline up the mountain. With only ~650 feet of ascent over the 1.4-mile trip up, it's generally a gradual and easy hike.

Most of the trail looks like this. I can't remember where this was, but given the snow, it was likely near the summit

Near the summit, the trail starts to be blazed with the occasional yellow DEC blaze. A lean-to and scenic view are just off the trail to the right. If you want to reach the true summit (and I don't see why you wouldn't), continue past the lean-to. You'll be back in a couple minutes to rest and enjoy the view.

Trail in summit area

Past the lean-to, we intersect the former route of the Long Path. Turn LEFT here. Faint aqua blazes indicate that this was the Long Path in the past. Not even 1/10 mile north of the junction lies the summit benchmark in the middle of the trail. I can't confirm if the entire hike before this is in Greene County, but the lean-to definitely is. Step on the benchmark and you've visited the highest ground in Schoharie County, a peak that's also a liner (the county line generally follows the ridgeline).

Summit benchmark

From here, retrace your steps back to the lean-to and enjoy the view.

The lean-to

The lean-to has one of the best views in the Catskills, and since we're below 3,500 feet, you can camp here and have a fire if desired.

Cave and Tower Mountains are clearly visible from the lean-to. I'd love to wake up to this view after sleeping up here.

Summit fire pit

Strangely, the area's only DEC trail register is at the lean-to itself. I was the only person not performing a DEC patrol to register for nearly a month.

Once you are done enjoying the amazing view, it's an easy hike back to the Quarry parking area. Honestly, the hardest part of getting down is ensuring your car makes it down safely. If you like hikes where you can be alone or relatively-easy hikes with great views, Huntersfield Mountain is the place for you.

How to get there

Huntersfield might be the highest peak in Schoharie County, but the only way there is through Greene County (unless, of course, you take a lengthy hike on the Long Path). There are two main places to park for the hike, depending on how comfortable you are taking your car up a minimum-maintenance dirt road:

Quarry Trailhead

This is where I started for the hike and it gets you up on the ridge. Total round trip ascent is approximately 650 feet, round trip distance is 2.8 miles if you visit the summit benchmark. Jim Cleveland Road and Huntersfield Road south of the snowplow turnaround are unpaved, unmaintained, and not in good shape. I did get my Honda Fit up and down, but I'd recommend going very slowly if you park up top. Parking is at the abandoned quarry at the top (east side of road), you can come in from either side.

Huntersfield Road Trailhead

This keeps you on maintained, paved roads, but there's double the ascent and double the distance, as half of the hike is just getting to the quarry. Simply hike up the road to the quarry, follow guide above. There is supposedly another trail branching off the road between the parking area and the quarry that connects with the Long Path northwest of Huntersfield and can be completed as a loop, but I cannot confirm. Parking is roughly 200 feet after the snowplow turnaround.

Nearby Short Hikes and Attractions

As the hike is short and far from civilization, I'd strongly recommend combining it with a visit to one of several nearby attractions:

• Pratt Rocks (see this write-up at Unlocking New York, run by a friend of mine)
• Mine Kill State Park
• Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project Visitors Center and Lansing Manor 
• Several hikes in the northern Catskills, including Bearpen Mountain (Delaware County's high point) and Otsego County's high point

Resources

Catskill Mountaineer: Huntersfield Mountain: Has more trail information and pictures. This hike starts at the Huntersfield Road trailhead.
Huntersfield State Forest: NYSDEC website for area, contains topographic map and information

Tramping up Tremper Mountain (Mt. Tremper)

Looking toward the Ashokan Reservoir
(All images mine)

Smack in the middle of Catskill Park between the small hamlets of Mt. Tremper and Phoenicia lies Tremper Mountain. Nestled between several Catskill High Peaks and within 10 miles of the range's only two 4,000 footers, the 2,740-foot Tremper is smaller than many of the peaks in this area. If it wasn't for the fire tower at the summit (one of only 5 in the Catskills), there would be no reason for most people to climb this mountain. But, believe it or not, Tremper may be harder than both of those 4,000 footers (and I've climbed all 3 of these mountains) and it's arguably the hardest Catskill fire tower to reach.

If you want to get into the cab of this tower, it's only open from 10 AM to 4 PM on weekends/holidays between Memorial Day and Columbus Day, which also happen to be peak hiking times. The lot at this trailhead is tiny, holding less than 10 cars if parked tightly, and there isn't a ton of space available along the road outside of a couple pull-outs to the northwest. So, if you're like me and don't enjoy fighting for parking on your hikes, you probably won't get into the cab. It's 3.1 miles each way from the trailhead to the fire tower with a good 2,000 feet of ascent along a steep trail. You can hike it from the other side, but it's a longer hike with even less parking. The Tremper Mountain Trail is blazed red.

I got to the trailhead around 10:30 AM on a Tuesday in early May. Might have only been May 1st, but it was quite warm - already close to 70 and still climbing.

Kiosk at trailhead. Only at 800 feet...

The trailhead kiosk warns of rattlesnakes along the trail. While I did not see any on my hike, there is at least one known rattlesnake den near the trail, so try to stay on the trail.

The trailhead and parking are located a good distance from the old fire road, requiring an 0.4 mile hike on a relatively-new trail through the woods to the fire road and trail register.

Starting off, the trail immediately crosses some small streams.

Bridge 1. Bridge 2 in the background.

Bridge 2

After the pair of bridges, the trail climbs a stone staircase and heads into the woods.

Most of the 0.4 mile from trailhead to register looks like this

Once you reach the old fire road, the trail register presents itself.

Approaching the register

Trail turns right to follow the road uphill at the register. This turn is NOT signed going down, so remember it.

Trail register

The trail turns right onto the fire road and the long uphill climb begins.

Not far from the trailhead, we reach a culvert that has been removed.

Former culvert, lying to the side of the trail

There's a stream crossing roughly 3/4 mile from the trailhead. I wouldn't be surprised if this is seasonal, but since it was early May, everything was flowing.

As I ascended the mountain, the road became rougher.

The trail was generally in very good shape, but a few trees had fallen over the winter. I didn't get an uphill picture of the first tree, but it could be climbed over with some effort.

Roughly 1.1 miles from the trailhead, there is an abandoned quarry on the left. While it looks tempting to explore, resist the temptation. That quarry is home to a known rattlesnake den.

Former quarry. DO NOT LEAVE TRAIL HERE.

Past the quarry, we have fallen tree #2, which also required climbing over.

Large tree across the trail

The second tree behind me, the trail descended gently before taking a hairpin turn to the left and resuming the climb.

Some rock formations are present along this section of the trail.

Rock formation along trail

There's another hairpin, this time to the right, approaching the spur trail to the Baldwin Memorial lean-to roughly 2.2 miles from the trailhead.

Approaching the hairpin

The lean-to, like most in the forest preserve, has a privy.

Lean-to privy is hidden amongst the trees

A spring is located a short distance past the lean-to. It was flowing quite well.

Pipe spring to the left

Continuing to climb, there's another hairpin to the left near some cliffs.

Cliffs near hairpin

The trees up here change in type as the relatively-high elevation becomes apparent. I saw my first group of hikers for the day up in this area.

Another tree had fallen across the trail up here, this one smaller.

Nearly 2.8 miles from the trailhead, the trail levels off and turns to the left, proceeding across the summit ridge. Passed a second group of hikers while walking along the ridge.

Trail along summit ridge

Immediately before the summit, there is a privy and the Tremper Mountain lean-to.

Privy sign. Tower in background.

Tremper Mountain lean-to

Finally, after climbing 2,000 feet, I was there.

The 47-foot Mount Tremper Fire Observation Station was constructed in 1917. Closed in 1970, the tower was restored and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The observer's cabin and storage shed were removed in 1977.

The tower 

The summit has signs for the major destinations in each direction. Jessup Rd is the northern trailhead for the mountain, but it has no designated parking.

Enough talking, time to climb the tower.

As I expected, the cab was locked.

But thankfully, you don't need to get into the cab to see the views.

View south toward Slide Mountain and the Burroughs Range. Still a bit of snow up there on May 1.

View southeast toward the Ashokan Reservoir

View east toward Woodstock

View west

Being as I had the summit to myself, I sat on the stairs leading up from the last landing to have lunch while enjoying the view. There was a steady breeze up here and it was quite refreshing.

The hike down was pretty uneventful and I completed it in less than an hour and a half.

Some flowers along the trail

A short distance above the spring, I passed another group of hikers.

That's the spring, coming out of a pipe at the center of the picture 

Looking down at the Baldwin Memorial lean-to

Looking down at the first tree one will encounter climbing the mountain 

Before I knew it, I was rounding the lowest hairpin less than a mile from the trailhead.

Looking down at the lowest hairpin

The stream crossing is a short distance after the hairpin

 Be careful not to follow the yellow paint blazes, as these only mark the state land boundary.

Remember the unsigned left turn at the register. You can get back to the trail by continuing down the old fire road, but it requires a lengthy road walk.

Turn left here. Straight ahead is the old road, which isn't the trail.

Just another 10 or so minutes and I was back at the stone staircase, my car nearly in sight.

Descending the staircase before the parking lot

Tremper Mountain isn't easy, but it's a nice hike near a major road that also nets you a fire tower.

Getting Here

The trailhead for Tremper Mountain is pretty easy to find. It's along Old Route 28 between Mt. Tremper and Phoenicia. Trailhead and parking are on the northeast side of the road. Additional parking is available in pullouts closer to Phoenicia.

Resources

Catskill Interpretive Center: The best resource for information and conditions in the Catskills. Trail conditions are updated every Friday.