Rails on the Escarpment: A Historic Hike in the Catskill Mountains

Friday, May 16 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM @ North-South Lake Campground

Lace up your hiking boots and step back in time on this unforgettable 2.5-mile guided hike through the heart of the Great Northern Catskills. Led by railroad historian Paul LaPierre, Rails on the Escarpment uncovers the forgotten story of three legendary 19th-century mountain railroads — the Stony Clove & Catskill Mountain, the Otis Elevating, and the Catskill & Tannersville lines — that once carried thousands of visitors to the grand resorts of the Catskill Mountain House and Hotel Kaaterskill.

Explore the historic rail beds and remnant artifacts of an era when this Great Northern Catskill Mountain Top was one of New York's most celebrated travel destinations. Hikers will visit the site of the upper Otis Elevating Railroad station, trace the original roadbed of the Catskill & Tannersville Railroad, and discover a small historic rail yard where physical artifacts still remain from when the tracks were removed in 1940.

Your guide, Paul LaPierre, is Vice President of the Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenicia, a member of the Mountain Top Historical Society, and a lifelong Catskills railroad enthusiast.

This is a perfect spring outdoor activity for history lovers, hikers, and anyone exploring the Greene County Catskills.

Space is limited — registration required. To register email mthsdirector@mths.org or call 518-589-6657