Indian Head Wilderness
- Open for recreation: Year-round
- Fee: Free
- Contact Information:
- DEC Region 4 Stamford Office (M-F, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM), (607) 652-7365; r4.ump@dec.ny.gov
- Enforcement Matters: 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264) or 911
- Location: Towns of Saugerties and Woodstock, Ulster County, and Town of Hunter, Greene County
- Wildlife Management Unit: 3A
- Map: Indian Head Wilderness Map (GeoPDF) - GeoPDF Instructions || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator
The 11,500-acre Indian Head Wilderness is on the eastern escarpment of the Catskill Mountains in the Catskill Forest Preserve. The wilderness area is characterized by extremely rugged topography, with five major peaks falling within the unit: Plattekill, Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, and Plateau mountains. The vistas afforded by these peaks attract thousands of hikers annually, as does the Long Path, with passes through the wilderness from west-to-east over most of the high peaks.
Featured Activities
Hiking
General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
Devil's Path (25.2 miles, red markers): Devil's Path is a popular and challenging trail extending from the Prediger Road Parking Area in Indian Head Wilderness west to County Route 6 (Spruceton Road) in the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness. The trail crosses the summits on Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, Plateau, and West Kill mountains. About 13.7 miles of the trail traverse the Indian Head Wilderness.
Warner Creek Trail (3.0 miles, blue markers): The Warner Creek Trail extends from the Phoenicia Trail off of Notch Inn Road in the Phoenicia-Mt. Tobias Wild Forest to the Devil's Path. Access the trail 0.75 miles from the end of Notch Inn Road. The Warner Creek Trail coincides with the Long Path.
Mink Hollow Trail (5.3 miles, blue markers): The Mink Hollow Trail travels from the end of Mink Hollow Road in the south up 2.5 miles to the Mink Hollow Lean-to, then the Devils Path at 2.6 miles. The trail ends at 5.3 miles at the junction of the Roaring Kill Trail and the Pecoy Notch Trail. A steep bushwhack to one of the Catskill 67, the 3440 foot Olderbark Mountain is normally started from along this trail.
Pecoy Notch Trail (1.8 miles, blue markers): The Pecoy Notch Trail extends from the junction of the Roaring Kill Trail and Mink Hollow Trail to the Devil's Path. Some hikers use this trail, Mink Hollow Trail, Roaring Kill Trail and the Devil's Path to create a 7-mile loop hike featuring Sugarloaf Mountain.
Roaring Kill Trail (0.3 miles, yellow markers): The Roaring Kill Trail extends from the Roaring Kill Parking Lot on Elka Park Road to the junction of the Pecoy Notch Trail and Mink Hollow Trail.
Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail (1.6 miles, blue markers): This trail starts at one spot along the Devils Path and travels 1.6 miles to another spot along the Devil's Path. Some hikers use this trail and the Devils Path to create a 6.4-mile loop hike featuring Indian Head Mountain.
Overlook Trail (4.8 miles, blue markers): This trail starts off Platte Clove Road and travels 4.8 miles south to the Overlook Spur Trail about 0.4 miles from the summit of Overlook Mountain. It is 3.4 miles from Platte Clove Road to the junction with the Echo Lake Trail.
Echo Lake Trail (0.7 miles, yellow markers): The Echo Lake Trail extends from the Overlook Trail to Echo Lake. There is a lean-to and seven designated campsites near the lake.
Camping
General information on backcountry camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
Indian Head Wilderness features 10 designated primitive tent sites and 3 lean-tos located near:
- Junction of Devil's Path and Mink Hollow Trail (3-tent, 1-lean-to),
- Devil's Kitchen on the Overlook Trail (1-lean-to) and
- Echo Lake (7-tent, 1-lean-to).
At-large primitive camping is also allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
Camping is prohibited above an elevation of 3,500 feet in the Catskills, between March 21 and December 21.
Cross-country Skiing & Snowshoeing
General information on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
Indian Head Wilderness is open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. There are no groomed or maintained trails, however cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on all hiking trails.
Fishing
General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules and regulations.
The nearby Schoharie Creek is a trout stream with public access for fishing. Parking is located along Elka Park Road.
For Public Fishing Rights (PFR) on the Schoharie Creek, visit DECinfo Locator- Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map (DECinfo Locator is best viewed on a desktop computer. Users are encouraged to visit the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide first for "how to" instructions on using the fishing map).
East- Central NY Fishing provides information on fishing in the Catskills and links to top fishing waters, stocking lists, public fishing access and waters open to ice fishing listed by county.
Hunting & Trapping
General information on hunting and general information on trapping include how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.
Hunting and trapping are allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, bear, bobcat, coyote and fisher.
Wildlife
General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.
The Catskills are home to an abundance of wildlife. With both larger mammals (including deer, bear, and bobcat) as well as smaller mammals (including porcupine and fisher) the Catskills have several unique habitats. In addition to the many mammals found in the Catskills, hundreds of species of birds can also be found in the Catskills.
Directions
There are 6 parking areas and a number of trailheads and access points with road side parking that can be used to access the Indian Head Wilderness.
From NYS Route 214
- Notch Lake Parking Lot is located off of NYS Route 214 at the Devil's Tombstone Campground. The parking lot provides accesses Devil's Path.
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Phoenicia Trail Trailhead is located at the end of Notch Inn Road. (42.137505°N, 74.211189°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
From NYS Route 212
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Lake Hill Parking Lot is located off of Mink Hollow Road, 2.9 north of its intersection with NYS Route 212. (42.105131°N, 74.173565°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
From Greene County Route 16 (Platte Clove Road)
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Roaring Kill Parking Lot is located on Roaring Kill Road, 1.4 miles for its intersection with Elka Park Road. (42.151237°N, 74.130844°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
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Old Mink Hollow Road Trailhead is located at the end of Mink Hollow Road off of Elka Park Road. (42.143616°N, 74.158144°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
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Prediger Road Parking Lot is located at the end of Prediger Road, off of Platte Cove Road. (42.134122°N, 74.104417°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
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Public Fishing Stream Parking is located on Roaring Kill Road, off of Elka Park Road. (42.157405°N, 74.138260°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- Steenburgh Road Parking Lot is located off of Platte Clove Road. (42.133607°N, 74.082241°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.
Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety
Practice Leave No Trace Principles (leaves DEC website) when recreating in the Catskills to enjoy the outdoors responsibly; minimize impact on the natural resources and avoid conflicts with other backcountry users.
All users of Indian Head Wilderness must follow all State Land Use Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.
Specific Rules
Camping is prohibited above an elevation of 3,500 feet in the Catskills, between March 21 and December 21.
Planning and Management
DEC manages these lands in accordance with the 1992 Indian Head-Plateau Mountain Unit Management Plan (UMP) (PDF). In addition to management objectives, the UMP contains detailed information on natural features, recreational infrastructure, geology, natural and human history, habitats, wildlife, fisheries, and much more. The UMP was amended in 2005 (PDF) to propose reroutes to the Long Path.
If you have questions and/or comments about this UMP, please email us at r4.ump@dec.ny.gov.
Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities & Other Information
State Lands and Facilities
- Kaaterskill Wild Forest
- Devil's Tombstone Campground
- Hunter - West Kill Wilderness
- Rusk Mountain Wild Forest
- Windham Blackhead Range Wilderness
- Phoenicia - Mount Tobias Wild Forest
- Slide Mountain Wilderness
Where to Find Nearby Amenities
- Lodging and dining opportunities, as well as gas, food and other supplies can be found in the nearby communities of Hunter, Tannersville, and Woodstock.
Catskill Regional Tourism Office (leaves DEC website), Greene County Tourism Office (leaves DEC website) and Ulster County Tourism Office (leaves DEC website) can provide information about other recreation, attractions and amenities in this area.
Numerous guidebooks and maps are available with information on the lands, waters, trails and other recreational facilities in this area. These can be purchased at most outdoor equipment retailers, bookstores, and on-line booksellers.
Additional information, outdoor equipment, trip suggestions and guided or self-guided tours may be obtained from outdoor guide and outfitting businesses. Check area chambers of commerce, telephone directories or search the internet for listings.
Consider hiring an outdoor guide if you have little experience or woodland skills. See the NYS Outdoor Guides Association (leaves DEC website) for information on outdoor guides.
