Printer-friendlyHunter Mountain Wild Forest
Hunter Mountain Wild Forest encompasses almost 11,000 acres in the northeast portion of the Catskill Park. The forest is located in Greene County in the towns of Hunter, Jewett, and Lexington.
Terrain
Hunter Mountain Wild Forest is mountainous. There are six main peaks located within the forest; Hunter Mountain (4,040'), Southwest Hunter (3,740'), Rusk Mountain (3,680'), Evergreen Mountain 3,360'), Pine Island Mountain (3,140'), and Packsaddle Mountain (3,100'). The area is rugged and there is limited access to the Forest. There are several year round and seasonal streams which either flow to the Schoharie in the north or to the Westkill in the south.
Access
The area can be accessed from NYS Route 214 and Greene County Route 6 (Spruceton Road). Watch for trailheads and forest preserve access parking areas along these routes.
From the East
- Becker Hollow Trailhead - approximately 1.3 miles south of the intersection of State Routes 214 and 23A.
- Devil's Path Trailhead - approximately 2.8 miles south of the intersection of State Routes 214 and 23A.
From the West
Along Greene County Route 6 (Spructeon Road):
- Diamond Notch Trailhead - approximately 7 miles east of Westkill.
- Hunter Mountain (Spruceton Road) Trailhead may also be used - 6.75 miles east of Westkill on the north side of the road.
Hunter Mountain Fire Tower
The sixty foot tall Hunter Mountain Fire Tower is in the process of being rehabilitated. To date, the observer's cabin, tower landings, and the tower cab and roof have been restored. Future renovations will involve replacement of some select steel members. The tower is only open to the public when DEC staff are present. In the future, the DEC is planning on staffing the site with an interpreter during peak use periods.
Recreation
A variety of wilderness recreational opportunities ranging from hiking, snowshoeing, bird-watching, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and primitive camping to horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and trapping await the visitor. Visitors are encouraged to travel and camp with care, utilizing the principles promoted in the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics Program.
Hiking
Hunter Mountain
The summit of Hunter Mountain can be attained by four different routes. Two are located within the Hunter Mountain Wild Forest.
Diamond Notch Trail (Blue Trail Markers)
This trail was developed during the 1937 season primarily as a ski trail from the Stony Clove Road (Route 214) near Lanesville to the Spruceton Road near its junction with the old Spruceton-Hunter Road.
A gentle three mile hike with an ascent of 1,300' from the south of the notch, and a 700' ascent from the north to the notch. Hikers will find the Diamond Notch Lean-to just to the north of the notch, and can visit Buttermilk Falls at the Devil's Path Junction. This beautiful waterfall drops about 25 feet in an amphitheater-like setting, with a small meadow nearby. Just to the east of the Falls, the Devil's Path enters the Hunter Mountain Wild Forest.
The northern portion of the Diamond Notch trail, leading from the parking lot along the Spruceton Road to the Falls, is a popular 2 mile round trip family hike and is identified as such in the "Catskill Adventure - Day Hikes and Paddles for Families" brochure.
Becker Hollow Trail (Blue Trail Markers) This trail begins at the trailhead along State Route 214, just north of Devil's Tombstone Campground. This short trail is arguably the most difficult hike in the Catskills - climbing nearly 2,000 feet in two miles. However, for those willing to exert the energy, the reward is a short route to the summit of Hunter Mountain with it's spectacular views.
Spruceton and Colonel's Chair Trails (Blue Trail Markers) This 3.6 mile trail is to the fire tower access road. Along it you can visit the John Robb leanto and take in good views of the Westkill Mountain Wilderness and Spruceton Valley. A short one mile trail leads off to the north, just above the leanto, to the upper ski lift area on Hunter Mountain. This yellow marked trail, known as Colonel's Chair, will also lead you to the resort's snack bar, which is seasonally open!
Devil's Path (Red Trail Markers)
This trail because of the rugged country which it traverses, is known as the "Devil's Path." The easterly section over the ridge of Indian Head, Twin, and Sugarloaf mountains was first opened in 1930. The westerly continuation over Plateau and Hunter Mountains was opened in 1935. The trail follows the height of land on the range for almost its entire length and beautiful vistas of the Catskill region are enjoyed from numerous points along the way.
4.2 miles of this very popular trail traverses the unit. This hike is considered strenuous, rising approximately 1500 feet within two miles. Views along the trail are spectacular, and include the Spruceton Valley, Plateau Mountain, and south to Ulster County. A seasonal spring and the Devils Acre leanto are located near the summit of Hunter Mountain at the trail junction of the Devil's Path and the yellow-marked Hunter Mountain Trail.
Horseback Riding
The Northern portion of the Diamond Notch Trail is also marked as a horse trail. Riders can travel the 1.6 miles from the Hunter Mountain (Spruceton Road) Trailhead, past the falls to the leanto. This short length of trail compliments additional equestrian trails located in the Hunter Mountain Wild Forest.
Mountain Biking
Mountain Bikers can access all Catskill forest preserve trails. Bikers may find the terrain limiting along certain portions of the area's trails, particularly the steep and rocky Devil's Path and Becker Hollow trails. Although steep and rocky in spots, the Spruceton Truck Trial leading to the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower is suitable for mountain biking. Riders are encouraged to follow the International Mountain Bicycling Association's "Rules of the Trail"to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping
Hunting, fishing, and trapping are traditional uses that are encouraged within the Forest Preserve. For more information check out the NYSDEC Divsion of Fish,Wildlife and Marine Resources web site.
History
The terrain of the Catskill Mountains were a physical barrier to the Native American people. The mountains were used for hunting and trapping while the valleys were used to travel through the mountains.
At first, very little of the land which is now Hunter Mountain Wild Forest was ever cleared and farmed; but later, as forest was cleared for other reasons, farms expanded their livestock herds and pastured much of the gentle and moderate slopes on the mountains. It was the "other reasons"--economic enterprises--that made the greatest impact on the dense virgin forests of the area.
There was lumbering in the Catskills but it was selective and concentrated in the valleys where it was more accessible to be transported.
Tanning was the first extensive human disturbance in the mountain area. In the leather tanning process, hemlock trees were cut down and the bark of the trees were peeled; the bark was used to tan the leather hides. Tanneries quickly spread all over the Catskills. It was easier to tan the hides where the bark was because of the bulk associated with tree bark. Tanneries were in existence in the Catskills from around 1800 until 1880. The life of the tannery business was relatively short but its impacts were long lasting.
The opening up of transportation corridors to the mountains for agriculture and tanning coincided with the demand for wood. Milling and timber cutting led to the growth of the furniture business in the Catskills. Some mills could produce up to 3,600 chairs and 900 cradles per week. Many Catskill hamlets owe their locations to a long-forgotten sawmill or chair factory.
Clean air, green forests and mountain scenery brought another industry to the area and to the entire Catskills - tourism. Until the mid 1800's it seemed that only the local residents sensed the full extent of these mountains. The resorts of the eastern Catskills, like the Catskill Mountain House, advertised that they were the center of the Catskills. But in 1880, Arnold Guyot, studied the Catskill region and he recognized that Hunter Mountain was the second highest peak in the Catskills.
We would like to thank all of the volunteer groups and individuals who dedicate their time and energy in assisting us with the maintenance of this area.
For Further Assistance:
Forest Preserve Management
NYSDEC Region 4
Stamford Sub-Office
Route 10
Stamford, New York 12167
Telephone: (607) 652-7365
Additional Phone Numbers:
Fishing: (607) 652-7366
Forest Rangers: (607) 652-5076 or 652-5063
Hunting: (607) 652-7367
Law Enforcement: (607) 652-6705
