Kaaterskill Falls Upper View

Catskills Park Preserve
Greene Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Kaaterskill Falls Trail

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.8 Miles

Pros: Famous Waterfall
Cons: Very busy area
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/iaZPR65Q3r4Q6Nxr9

Hiking Partner:
Rayzi Friedman

We were staying at North South Lake Campground, and these falls are right nearby. We parked at the upper parking area at the end of Laurel House Road, and took the trail that cuts through the switchback directly over to the Kaaterskill Falls viewing platform. We then walked along the ledge to the top of the falls, and then in Spruce Creek, until the trail bridge crossing Spruce Creek. We then took the trail back to our car.

Map of the Route

Top of Kaaterskill Falls

View Above Kaaterskill Falls

Top of the Falls

Bridge Above Spruce Creek

Sunset Rock at the Catskills

Catskills Park Preserve
Greene Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Connector Trail: Yellow blaze
Escarpment Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.8 Miles

Pros: Short and sweet hike with excellent views and crevice scramble
Cons: None
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/y7AMtKNXW2U3NbL9A

Hiking Partner:
Rayzi Friedman

I had gone to North South Lake on an overnight camping trip, and while camping we did this short but incredible hike. We got in later in the day and after setting up the tent in the late afternoon we didn't have time for a longer hike. We parked at the North Lake Beach, and took the Escarpment Trail north along the ridge, passing Artist's Rock, and then heading up to Sunset Rock. We took the narrow crevice up to the top for an amazing Catskills view. We then the Escarpment Trail back down towards North Lake.

Map of the Route

Signage at the Head of the Trail

Blooming Mountain Laurels

Cliff Ledge with Overhang

Interesting Rock Formations

Tree Overhanging at Artist's Rock

View from the Escarpment from Artist's Rock

Approaching the Crevice at Sunset Rock

In the Crevice at Sunset Rock

North South Lake from Sunset Rock

Back to Artist Rock on the Return

Pine Swamp Mine Loop

Harriman State Park
Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze
Dunning Trail: Yellow blaze
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:50 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.3 Miles

Pros: Nice view, historic mine, scenic lake
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dzohiYwYQRNbCtyd8

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

The Pine Swamp Mine is a very large hole like a cave that you can go all the way into. It's a great place for a historical understanding of Harriman State Park and its mining history. We parked at the Lake Skanatati and took the Arden-Surebridge Trail up, and then we took the old trail up the scramble to the Pine Swamp Mountain view (no longer on the trail and since rerouted.)

We then went back to the Arden-Surebridge Trail to Dunning Trail at the the Pine Swamp Mine, which is a complex of many pits and dumps, including a very large hole that we went all the way into. There is a path up the hill by the dumps that goes to the complex. We then continued along the Dunning Trail to the Long Path, which we took back to our car.

Lake Skanatati from the Parking Lot

Pine Swamp Mountain View

Pine Swamp Mine Pit

Pine Swamp Mine Big Hole

Inside the Pine Swamp Mine

Pine Swamp