Loading…
Five fall hikes for every kind of hiker, from a quick, steep climb to a full-day ridge walk
When the maples turn, the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County put on one of the best shows in the Northeast. Lace up and find your trail, from cliff-side carvings above the Schoharie Valley to quiet boardwalks along the Hudson. Then wander into a nearby town to round out the day.
Known as “New York’s Mount Rushmore,” this short but steep climb rises just outside the village of Prattsville. Tanner Zadock Pratt had his life story carved into the cliffs here starting in the 1840s, and today the carvings share the ledge with sweeping views of the valley below. The trailhead is off Route 23 in Prattsville. Expect a steep climb in parts of the 3.1-mile round trip hike.
Pratt Rock is just minutes from the village of Prattsville, where you can dig deeper into Zadock Pratt’s story and explore the town he built.
This one is for the dedicated hikers in your group. The full trek to Stoppel Point runs about 8 miles round trip and is moderate to challenging, or you can turn back at North Point for a 6-mile outing. Along the way, you’ll pass a waterfall on the Mary’s Glen Trail and climb through evergreen forest to open ledges with long views over a patchwork of fall color. The climb to North Point is steep, and the top can get windy, so pack an extra layer. The trailhead is on Scutt Road, just off North Lake Road near the entrance to North-South Lake Campground.
Head up the mountain to Tannersville. Its brightly painted Main Street is a fun place to explore, shop and enjoy a meal after a long day on the trail.
Huckleberry Point might be the best value in Catskills fall hiking. At about 4.6 miles round trip, it climbs an old woods road, crosses a mountain stream, and opens onto a rock ledge with sweeping views of Platte Clove, the Catskill high peaks, and the Hudson Valley beyond. The ledge faces east, so early risers can catch the sunrise. The trailhead is at the DEC parking area on Platte Clove Road in Elka Park, south of Tannersville. The first mile follows a road through private land, so stay on the trail and watch on your right for the yellow-blazed Huckleberry Point Trail where the road splits.
Make a day of it: Head west to the village of Hunter to explore, grab a bite, and soak up even more fall color along the Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway, which winds through the heart of the Catskill high peaks.
If you want the payoff without the commitment, this is your trail. In just 3.2 miles round trip, you’ll find waterfalls and a covered wooden bridge made for fall photos. At the bridge, follow the path down to the base of the falls and take a moment with the sound of cascading water and the color overhead. The trailhead is at the end of Winter Clove Road in Round Top, by the Winter Clove Inn.
Make a day of it: Round Top sits in the rolling hills between the mountains and the Hudson Valley, with Cairo and Purling just down the road.
When peak color has come and gone in the mountains, head down to the Hudson. The River Region’s foliage often peaks a week or more later than the high elevations, making this the perfect late-season walk. Short trails lead to an observation deck over Vosburgh Swamp, where you can watch for migrating birds, then up to a bluff-top overlook with sweeping river views, and finally down to the shoreline itself. The preserve is free, open sunrise to sunset, and found at 169 Four Mile Point Road in Coxsackie.
Make a day of it: Spend the afternoon browsing antique shops and stroll Coxsackie’s Reed Street Historic District, a row of Italianate buildings overlooking the river.
