Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Escarpment Trail (23.9 miles, blue markers) extends north from Schutt Road at the North South Lake Campground, through the Windham Blackhead Wilderness and west through the Elm Ridge Wild Forest, to NYS Route 23 in East Windham. The Escarpment Trail can be accessed from any of the unit's parking areas. It crosses many of the popular destinations in the unit including Windham High Peak, Burnt Knob, Acra Point, Bleackhead, Dutcher Notch, Stoppel Point, and North Point. The south end of the unit is bordered by the North-South Lake Public Campground, which has its own system of trails that in turn connect to other Forest Preserve lands further south.

Windham High Peak (3,524') is accessed from the Peck Road Parking Area. The elm ridge trail extends 0.9 miles from the parking area to the Escarpment Trail. The Escarpment Trail ascends 1,494 feet and 2.4 miles east to the summit of Windham High Peak. There is a lean-to near the intersection of the Elm Ridge Trail and the Escarpment Trail.

Burnt Knob is accessed from the Big Hollow Parking Area. The Black Dome Trail ascends 600 feet and 1 mile to the Escarpment Trail. The Escarpment Trail ascends 300 feet and 0.8 miles west to the Burnt Knob.

Acra Point is accessed from the Big Hollow Parking Area. The Black Dome Trail ascends 600 feet and 1 mile to the Escarpment Trail. The Escarpment Trail ascends 350 feet and 0.7 miles east to the summit of Acra Point.

Elm Ridge Trail (0.9 miles, yellow markers) extends from Peck Road Parking in the adjacent Elm Ridge Wild Forest to the western-most portion of the Escarpment Trail at the northwest corner of the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness.

Black Dome Trail (7.5 miles, red markers) extends east and then north from the trailhead at the end of Barnum Road to the Escarpment Trail between Burnt Knob and Acra Point. The trail crosses over Thomas Cole Mountain (3,940 feet) at 2.9 miles, Black Dome (3,980 feet) at 3.7 miles. At 4.3 miles, the trail connects to the Blackhead Mountain Spur Trail. At 5.7 miles, the trail intersects with the Batavia Kill Trail. At 6.3 miles the trail passes the Big Hollow Parking Lot and crosses Big Hollow Road. From Big Hollow Road, it is 1 mile north to the Escarpment Trail.

Thomas Cole Mountain (3,940 feet) is accessed from the Barnum Road Parking Area. The Black Dome Trail ascends 1,903 feet and 2.3 miles from the parking area to the summit of Thomas Cole Mountain.

Black Dome (3,980 feet)

• from the north is accessed from the Big Hollow Parking Area. The Black Dome Trail ascends 1,725 feet and 2.6 miles south from the parking area to the summit of Black Dome. The trail passes the intersection with the Batavia Kill Trail at mile 0.6.
• via Thomas Cole is accessed from the Barnum Road Parking Area. The Black Dome Trail ascends 2,170 feet and 3.0 miles from the parking area to the summit of Black Dome.

Blackhead (3,940 feet) is accessed from the Big Hollow Parking Area. The Black Dome Trail extends 0.6 miles southeast from the parking area to the intersection with the Batavia Kill Trail. The Batavia Kill Trail ascends 510 feet and 0.9 miles to the Escarpment Trail, passing a lean-to about half way. The Escarpment Trail extends 0.9 miles south, ascending 1,060 feet to the summit of Blackhead.

Blackhead Mountain Trail (0.7 miles, yellow markers) extends from the Black Dome Trail to the Escarpment Trail, crossing over the summit of Blackhead Mountain (3,940 feet).

Batavia Kill Trail (0.9 miles, yellow markers) from the Black Dome Trail to Escarpment Trail, south of Acra Point. It also leads to a lean-to.

Dutcher Notch Trail (1.9 miles, yellow markers) extends from the trailhead on Storks Nest Road to Dutcher Notch, located at the junction of the Escarpment, Colgate Lake, and Dutcher Notch trails.

Colgate Lake Trail (4.3 miles, yellow markers) extends from the Colgate Lake Parking Area in the Colgate Lake Wild Forest to the junction of the Escarpment Trail and the Dutcher Notch Trail in the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness.

General information on backcountry camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness features one lean-to, a primitive campsite and a privy, located along the Batavia Kill Trail. A second lean-to is located on the boundary of the adjacent Elm Ridge Wild Forest.

Additionally, at large primitive camping is 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.

Campsites must be below 3,500 feet in elevation.

General information on cross-country skiing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness is open to cross-country skiing in the winter. There are no groomed or maintained trails, however cross-country skiing is permitted on all hiking trails.

General information on snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness is open to snowshoeing in the winter. There are no groomed or maintained trails, however snowshoeing is permitted on all hiking trails.

Wildlife Management Unit: 3A

General information on hunting includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

The Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness lies at the northern edge of the Catskill Peaks ecozone. The area consists mostly of steep forested slopes with some areas of spruce and fir at the highest elevations. The extensive northern hardwood forests of the area provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. Game species in the area include white tailed deer and black bear. Furbearers in the area include fisher.

Wildlife Management Unit: 3A

General information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

The Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness lies at the northern edge of the Catskill Peaks ecozone. The area consists mostly of steep forested slopes with some areas of spruce and fir at the highest elevations. The extensive northern hardwood forests of the area provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Trapping is allowed during appropriate seasons. Game species in the area include white tailed deer and black bear. Furbearers in the area include fisher.

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.