Black Dome Range Trail
Photo: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 6.9 mi
- one way
- 2,474 ft
- climb
- 3,993 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Sep
- best months
Black Dome Range Trail is a 6.9-mile point-to-point hike in New York's Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness, managed by the State Department of Conservation. It's a moderate outing with a total elevation gain of 2,474 feet, and its highest point reaches 3,993 feet. The route starts at about 2,745 feet and ends at about 2,111 feet, with the most dramatic climb around mile 5.1, where the grade peaks at 40 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs in the mid-70s in July and August, but that station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. Winter is harsh, with January highs near 28 degrees. The hike is not wheelchair accessible, and bikes and horses are not allowed. Plan on about 3.5 hours for the trip. Nearby, Batavia Kill Trail lies about 1.8 miles away and Blackhead Trail about 2.3 miles away. Elm Ridge Trail and West Gauntlet Trail are both within 4 miles.
Local outfitters
- Catskill Outfitters19 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Sep
Best time to visit Black Dome Range Trail
Best months: September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
28° / 12°
16 wet
Feb
30° / 13°
14 wet
Mar
38° / 20°
15 wet
Apr
51° / 31°
13 wet
May
62° / 43°
15 wet
Jun
69° / 51°
14 wet
Jul
74° / 56°
13 wet
Aug
73° / 54°
13 wet
Sep
67° / 48°
12 wet
Oct
55° / 38°
14 wet
Nov
43° / 28°
13 wet
Dec
32° / 19°
16 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Slide Mtn, NY, 25.1 mi away at 2,650 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: alecperkins, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Batavia Kill Trail
~3 min drive
0.97-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 558 ft elevation loss.
Photo: Andy Arthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Blackhead Trail
~4 min drive
0.66-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 154 ft elevation gain.
Photo: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Colgate Lake Trail
~7 min drive
8.42-mile out-and-back hike at Colgate Lake in New York with 1,199 ft elevation gain
Photo: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Elm Ridge Trail
~6 min drive
0.84-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 384 ft elevation loss
Photo: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Mid Mountain Trail
~7 min drive
2.92-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 1,484 ft elevation gain
Photo: Alexander Gude, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Twilight Park Trail
~16 min drive
1.44-mile out-and-back trail in Twilight Park, New York with 1,285 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Outer Loop South Trail
~6 min drive
2.86-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 585 ft elevation gain
Photo: Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Stoppel Point Trail (red)
~10 min drive
3.16-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 1,768 ft gain and 2,590 ft max elevation.
Photo: New York Public Library, No restrictions (via Wikimedia Commons)Devil's Path
~21 min drive
Strenuous 14.92-mile point-to-point Catskill ridge traverse for experienced hikers.
Photo: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)West Gauntlet Trail
~6 min drive
2.08-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 643 ft elevation gain
Route details
- Distance
- 6.9 mi
- Climbing
- About 2,474 ft
- Summit
- 3,993 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- About 3.5 hours
Questions about this route
How long is the Black Dome Range Trail on Black Dome?
About 6.9 mi.
How much elevation gain is on the Black Dome Range Trail?
About 2,474 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Black Dome Range Trail?
It is rated moderate.
How long does the Black Dome Range Trail take?
About 3.5 hours round trip.
Conditions and forecast on Black Dome
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
