New York · Hiking

Escarpment Trail

Escarpment TrailPhoto: Andy Arthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
2.6 mi
one way
600 ft
climb
2,243 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Sep–Oct
best months

Escarpment Trail is a 2.6-mile moderate hike in New York's Border Katerskill / Ns Lake Camp, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail rises about 600 feet from a low point of 1,855 feet to a high of 2,243 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.2 miles in, where the grade reaches 30 percent. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring through early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Platte Clove weather station, at a similar elevation, run from highs around 67°F in May to about 72°F in September, with July peaking near 80°F. The trail is not wheelchair accessible, and bikes and horses are not allowed. Schutt Road lies just 0.3 miles away, and Poet's Ledge Trail and Rock Shelter Trail are both within about 2 miles. Climbers can find the Catskills climbing area about 1.1 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Escarpment Trail

    Best months: September–October. 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.

    1. Jan

      32° / 12°

      16 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 13°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 20°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 31°

      12 wet

    5. May

      67° / 42°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 51°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 55°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 54°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 48°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 37°

      12 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 28°

      13 wet

    12. Dec

      37° / 19°

      16 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Platte Clove, NY, 4 mi away at 2,032 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Schutt RoadPhoto: Andy Arthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Schutt Road

Next door

0.97-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 367 ft elevation loss

Poet's Ledge TrailPhoto: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Poet's Ledge Trail

~2 min drive

0.45-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 294 ft elevation loss.

Twilight Park TrailPhoto: Alexander Gude, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Twilight Park Trail

~4 min drive

1.44-mile out-and-back trail in Twilight Park, New York with 1,285 ft of elevation gain.

Rock Shelter TrailPhoto: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rock Shelter Trail

~3 min drive

Short point-to-point trail to a natural rock shelter in New York.

Winter Clove Falls trailPhoto: Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Winter Clove Falls trail

~6 min drive

2.58-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 1,315 ft elevation gain

Devil's PathPhoto: New York Public Library, No restrictions (via Wikimedia Commons)

Devil's Path

~8 min drive

Strenuous 14.92-mile point-to-point Catskill ridge traverse for experienced hikers.

Mary's Glen TrailPhoto: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mary's Glen Trail

~4 min drive

1.28-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 69 ft gain and 637 ft loss

Rip's Ledge trailPhoto: Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rip's Ledge trail

~6 min drive

5.5-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 1,982 ft elevation gain and loss.

Colgate Lake TrailPhoto: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Colgate Lake Trail

~9 min drive

8.42-mile out-and-back hike at Colgate Lake in New York with 1,199 ft elevation gain

Kaaterskill Rail TrailPhoto: RobertDrake2015, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Kaaterskill Rail Trail

~4 min drive

2.88-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 442 ft elevation gain

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors