Hunter Mountain and the Kaaterskill Rail Trail

The Catskills are an ancient, deeply eroded plateau rather than a folded mountain range, their rounded summits and steep-walled cloves carved by streams cutting down into layers of old sandstone and shale. Hunter Mountain stands among the tallest of these summits, its height giving it the cool climate and long winters that made it a natural ski mountain.

This is deep-forest country of northern hardwoods and high stands of red spruce and balsam fir near the summits, where the air stays cool even in summer. This land lies at the edge of the homeland of the Lenape and the Mohican peoples, whose descendants continue as living nations, and whose ancestors knew and traveled these valleys long before the settlers came. The Catskills' rugged beauty later drew the painters of the Hudson River School, who made the region famous.

Reaching Hunter's summit on foot means a steep, rocky climb through changing forest, from hardwoods low down to fragrant spruce and fir near the top. The effort is rewarded by a historic fire tower standing on the summit, one of the surviving steel lookout towers built long ago to spot forest fires across the range.

Climbing the tower's stairs lifts you above the trees for a full-circle view over the sea of Catskill peaks, valleys, and, on the clearest days, distant ranges beyond. Fire towers like this one were once staffed by lonely watchers scanning for smoke, and today they are prized as some of the best viewpoints in the mountains. The summit is high and exposed, so weather can change fast, but the panorama makes it one of the great Catskill hikes.

In the late 1800s a mountain railroad wound up through the clove to carry tourists to the grand Catskill hotels and to haul tanbark and timber out of the forests. That railroad is long gone, but its graded bed makes an ideal trail, and the Kaaterskill Rail Trail follows its route along the valley floor.

Because it follows a railroad grade, the trail stays gentle and mostly level, a welcome contrast to the steep peak trails and an easy walk for families. It passes through cool hemlock groves, alongside rushing streams, and near waterfalls, with the walls of the clove rising on either side. Interpretive touches recall the vanished railroad and the golden age of Catskill tourism it once served.

Summer is cool and green in the high Catskills, ideal for hiking the peak trails and strolling the shaded rail trail, with the mountain streams running clear. Wildflowers line the paths and the deep forest offers relief from the valley heat below.

Fall brings the Catskills' famous foliage, when the hardwood slopes blaze red and gold and the views from the fire tower are at their most spectacular. Winter turns Hunter into a busy ski mountain, its slopes white while the surrounding forest sleeps under snow. Spring is quiet and wet, with waterfalls at their fullest and the woods greening up, a fine time for the gentler rail trail before the summer crowds arrive.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Hunter Mountain is a major Catskills peak and four-season resort near the village of Hunter. In winter it is one of the region's top spots for skiing and snowboarding, and in the warmer months a scenic gondola Skyride carries visitors up for panoramic mountain views, with hiking, festivals, and events rounding out the year. Paired with the nearby Kaaterskill Rail Trail, it makes an easy base for exploring the northern Catskills.

It is a scenic, mostly flat multi-use trail built on a former railroad line, offering easy walking and biking with mountain views and historic railroad trestle crossings as it links parts of the northern Catskills toward the Haines Falls and Kaaterskill area. Its gentle grade makes it a relaxed, family-friendly way to enjoy the scenery without a strenuous climb, and it connects to other area attractions and trails.

Often, yes. In the warmer months the resort typically runs a scenic gondola ride to the upper mountain for sweeping views, a lovely and low-effort way to get high into the Catskills, and it is especially popular during fall foliage. Operating days and hours vary by season and year, so it is worth checking the resort's current schedule before planning a trip around the ride.

Winter is ski and snowboard season at Hunter, while late spring through fall is ideal for the gondola, hiking, and the Kaaterskill Rail Trail, with autumn foliage a highlight throughout the northern Catskills. The rail trail is enjoyable in any snow-free season. Check current resort and gondola operations before you go, and dress for mountain weather, which can be cooler and more changeable than the valleys.

The area is rich with Catskills highlights. The famous Kaaterskill Falls is close by, along with the villages of Hunter and Tannersville, the scenic drives and overlooks of the Catskill Park, and challenging summit hikes for the ambitious. Together with the easy rail trail and the resort's activities, you can build anything from a relaxed family day to an adventurous mountain weekend.